Vertical Takeoff in Dayton
In September 2023, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company Joby Aviation announced that it would construct its first scaled production facility in Dayton, Ohio. The California-based company will invest $500 million at the 140-acre site at Dayton International Airport, which was selected due to its capacity to support future expansion. The region’s aviation legacy will come into play as Joby looks to fill 2,000 roles by the time operations begin in 2025. The project, which will begin construction in 2024, received $325 million in benefits and incentives from the state and JobsOhio.
The Dayton, Ohio, site will produce 500 aircraft annually.
Photo courtesy of Joby Aviation
From Silicon Valley to Space
Berkeley Space Center, NASA’s newest campus, will be located in the Ames Research Center at NASA Research Park near San Jose, California. The new 36-acre campus offers lab, office and educational space paired with student and faculty housing, a conference center and retail space. In partnership with the University of California Berkeley, this investment aims to create mutually beneficial learning opportunities within astronautics, aeronautics, quantum computing, climate studies, social sciences and more. “The diverse portfolios of NASA Ames and Berkeley open potential future collaborations in a variety of areas including interplanetary exploration, air transportation capabilities, the search for life beyond our planet, and environmental studies for the benefit of all,” said Ames Center Director Eugene Tu.
University of California Berkeley students have the opportunity to learn hands-on with emerging NASA technology.
Photo courtesy of Ames Research Center
Facing Project Bigfoot
The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge awarded 21 winners across the U.S. between $25 and $65 million.
Meta revealed it was behind the purchase application filed by Jimnist, LLC in 2022.
Photo courtesy of Meta
Solar Development Heads South
Solar panel manufacturer Silfab Solar plans to grow its U.S. portfolio with a $150 million, 800-job investment in York County, South Carolina. This location is the company’s first on the East Coast, as its only two U.S. sites are located in Bellingham and Burlington, Washington. The 785,000-sq.-ft. plant will be used to manufacture solar cell technology. “Silfab Solar’s investment in South Carolina strengthens our North America manufacturing capabilities, creates good-paying jobs and provides the ideal East Coast location to serve our growing customers,” said Silfab Solar CEO Paolo Maccario in a release. “The company specifically chose York County as the ideal location to expand because of the community’s commitment to innovation, its quality of life and the availability of a skilled workforce.”
Silfab Solar’s panels in action
Photo courtesy of Silfab Solar
CBRE’s Top 10 Markets for Office Conversions
In Cleveland, a former United Church of Christ office building (left) is being converted into a 120-unit apartment complex.
Photo courtesy of United Church of Christ
Energizing Pittsburgh
Eos Energy Enterprise, Inc., a battery manufacturing company, announced a $500 million investment for Project American Made Zinc Energy (AMAZE) about 11 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Turtle Creek. By 2026, the company aims to scale its storage capacity to 8 gigawatt hours to meet demand for Long Duration Energy Storage. “We are excited to formally announce Project AMAZE. The IRA implementation requires us to move with speed and urgency if the energy industry is going to meet the demand for long-duration energy storage,” said Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. CEO Joe Mastrangelo of the goals of the Inflation Reduction Act. “At such a crucial moment in our global energy transition, time is of the essence. Project AMAZE should allow Eos to fully commercialize a safe American-made energy storage alternative aimed at creating a resilient, diversified lower carbon energy future.” The expansion project is backed by a $398.6 million conditional commitment loan from the Department of Energy. Eos anticipates that about 650 new jobs will be created.
Project AMAZE plans to expand the nation’s domestic clean energy storage supply chain.
Photo courtesy of Eos Energy Enterprises
