One month ago, the Aerozone Alliance hosted its first summit: Navigating Headwinds and Harnessing Tailwinds.
The message from our community?
Loud and clear: it’s time to move from talk to action.
Leaders across business, government, and education told us what they need from this region:
- Look Forward. Stop gazing in the rearview mirror. Start charting a bolder course.
- Act with Urgency. Think in days and weeks, not years.
Focus on Outcomes. We have assets everywhere…it’s time for results. - Empower Talent. Our people are our greatest advantage. Let’s unleash them.
- Be Accountable. Goals matter. Public metrics drive progress.
The Aerozone Alliance board and our key partners are in the process of designing our 2026/27 Strategy, a plan to position Greater Cleveland as a national hub for aerospace innovation and advanced manufacturing.
At the center is a bold commitment:
1,000 Jobs. 24 Months.
That means 1,000 high-quality aerospace, aviation, and advanced manufacturing jobs — with an average salary of $70,000.
That’s $70 million in new payroll and $1.4 million in local tax revenue every year.
This isn’t a slogan. It’s a plan.
And the plan starts now.
We’ll create impact through four focused pathways:
- Retention & Expansion – 400 Jobs: Help local companies grow, innovate, and stay rooted here.
- Business Attraction – 400 Jobs: Bring new aerospace and advanced aviation firms to Greater Cleveland.
- Talent Pipeline – 200 Jobs: Connect residents to real opportunities through the Aerozone Jobs Platform and employer learning cohorts.
- Core Capabilities: Build the foundation for long-term lift — in real estate, innovation programming, and aerospace advocacy.
We’re not starting from scratch.
Major momentum is already underway:
- $1.6 billion airport terminal redevelopment
- A $4 billion Cleveland Browns investment
- NASA Glenn’s Fission Surface Power designation
- Local infrastructure and industrial park investments
- Federally funded studies that are designing pathways for us to capture this critical moment
The table is set.
Now it’s time to serve the meal.
The Aerozone Alliance isn’t just an organization.
It’s an idea.
A collaborative.
A GSD Tribe of doers across Greater Cleveland’s innovation corridor.
We believe in this region, in its grit, creativity, and capacity to deliver.
So here’s our call to action:
Join us.
Tell us how your company, school, city, or organization can get involved.
Share your ideas.
Bring your expertise.
Help us reach 1,000 jobs in 24 months — and prove that Next Can Be Now.
Link to our Draft Game Plan
Contact me with your ideas: hmahalaha@aerozonealliance.org, 216.272.7655
Let’s get to work!
Hrishue Mahalaha
Executive Director
Aerozone Alliance
