Cantwell Statement on Grand Opening of Spokane Machinists Institute Expansion

Cantwell Statement on Grand Opening of Spokane Machinists Institute Expansion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, celebrated the grand opening of the new Machinists Institute expansion in Spokane.

"Today's grand opening is great news for Spokane's high school students or anyone who wants a good-paying job with a bright future. With more shop space and new machines, the training center can give more Spokane residents the hands-on advanced aerospace manufacturing experience employers are looking for. Spokane companies are essential to meet the global demand for over 40,000 planes in the next 20 years and expanding the Machinists Institute will help ensure we have the workforce to get the job done," Sen. Cantwell said.

The Machinists Institute, established by the International Association of Machinists District 751, is a nonprofit workforce development organization that provides cutting-edge job training for manufacturing, aerospace, maritime, robotics, defense, and automotive workers - key industries in the Inland Northwest. The new $3.6 million facility expansion adds two classrooms, four offices, an administrative work area, and a reception area. The renovation updates the training facility, adding a union hall for Machinists Union Local 86, District 751 with offices and conference rooms, and includes a refurbished shop space that houses new computer-aided manufacturing tools like CNC machines as well as manual machines, and sheet metal equipment. The weld shop also features a brand-new ventilation system supporting eight welding booths, a CNC plasma table for precision metals cutting, and an instructor fabrication table. One side of the shop is dedicated to the Heavy-Duty Diesel Mechanic program and the Industrial Machine Technician program.

In 2023, a Spokane-based consortium of nearly 50 companies, universities, and labor groups called the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center (AAMMC) earned a federal Tech Hub designation, establishing the area as a key player with room to lead in America's aerospace materials sector. In January, the AAMMC was awarded $70 million from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to grow the aviation materials manufacturing industry in Spokane.

The designation centers the Inland Northwest as a hub for aerospace suppliers, private investment, new products, and companies in the U.S. aerospace supply chain. According to the consortium, there are 54 aerospace suppliers within 20 miles of Spokane. The hub focuses on research and development of large thermoplastic composite aviation materials, which can make aircraft and spacecraft more fuel-efficient. The global aviation industry is looking to composite materials and advanced manufacturing as a solution to reduce carbon emissions and lower operating costs.

Sen. Cantwell was the main architect and key negotiator of the CHIPS & Science Act, which created the Tech Hubs program. In her position as Commerce chair, she was instrumental in securing the science R&D funding authorizations in the 11th hour of negotiations. In April 2023, Sen. Cantwell invited NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan to Spokane, where he saw firsthand how Spokane organizations have collaborated to drive the region's current and future potential as a leader in technology innovation. In July 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted the Washington State Space Summit, bringing together 20 space companies, industry groups, and educators from across the State of Washington for a trade show and panel discussion.