Cleveland business group backs aerospace study

COLUMBUS (AP) — One of the largest chambers of commerce in the U.S. is backing Ohio legislation aimed at helping the state more aggressively promote its aerospace industry.

Greater Cleveland Partnership senior vice president Carol Caruso told state lawmakers earlier today her group endorses proposed legislation creating a state-level Aerospace and Technology Study Committee of lawmakers and business and military leaders.

Caruso said aerospace still drives the economy of a state that produced astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright.

NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland employs more than 3,200 highly paid, highly skilled workers through its $650 million annual budget. Caruso said Ohio also is the top supplier to both Boeing and Airbus and employs 17 percent of the entire U.S. aerospace and aviation workforce.