Spokane is…
Capable. Affordable. Accessible.
Whether you’re looking to expand manufacturing operations, establish a logistics presence, or grow your aerospace business, Spokane’s combination of capable workforce, affordable costs, and multimodal access makes it one of the most competitive locations in the country.
Spokane is uniquely capable.
Leveraging more than 100 aerospace firms supported by 25 colleges and universities.
Situated within the 5th largest aerospace cluster in the United States, the Spokane International Airport area offers over 500 acres of industrial-zoned land available for purchase or lease and a business environment designed to help you move fast. The area has seen substantial investment at every level. Two major Interstate 90 interchanges were fully reconstructed in 2021. A new Rail-Truck Transload Center connects air, rail, and truck freight in one location. An Amazon Fulfillment Center went from initial conversation to a 2.6 million square foot facility in just 24 months.
See what makes Spokane a region that has proven it can deliver.
Manufacturing
Spokane has broad manufacturing capabilities
The Spokane region is part of the I-90 Aerospace Corridor—an integrated network of more than 100 companies in Washington, Idaho, and Montana that actively supply the aerospace industry. These manufacturers offer a wide range of capabilities, including sheet metal fabrication, composites manufacturing, CNC machining, program integration, tooling, and injection molding.
Workforce
Spokane’s workforce is adaptive and growing
Workforce is a key resource essential to growing manufacturing operations. In general terms, the Spokane Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of over 670,000 people with a median age of 37, a labor force of 263,641, and an unemployment rate of 3.9% (through August 2023, the latest report). However, the Spokane labor force pulls from a much larger geographic footprint which includes Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Adams and Whitman counties, as well as Northern Idaho, adding a further 139,000 persons.
Education
Regional precision manufacturing is supported by numerous area universities and community colleges
Over 100,000 students from the area’s 20 higher education institutions are earning technical certification and advanced degrees, providing a well-trained and job-ready workforce. The region’s 4-year universities graduate over 1,400 engineers per year.
The Spokane area is served by numerous community colleges offering training in multiple areas relevant to aerospace: Aviation maintenance, CAD, electronics and avionics, hydraulics and pneumatics, CNC Machining, and welding.
Tech Hub
The American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center (AAMMC) is a proposed aerospace tech hub in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene region focused on accelerating the adoption of advanced lightweight composite materials. This Testbed and Training center will contain the largest composites press in the world and bring together world-class equipment under one roof where top industry and research engineers will prove new production capabilities to build the next generation in commercial and defense aerospace
Flight Testing
Spokane International Airport supports flight testing
Should you have a need for flight testing, the Airport has an abundance of airfield capacity and airspace that supports all flight test activities. The Airport is served by a Level 7 FAA Air Traffic Control Tower with approach control (TRACON). The Class C airspace allows for safe and efficient aircraft operation during flight test activities and the FAA ATCT staff has a customer-service culture that is helpful and friendly.
Spokane is the most affordable among U.S. aerospace clusters.
The Spokane region features the lowest wages among North American aerostructures clusters and offers the lowest wages in aerospace producing areas of Washington State. Housing and transportation are cheaper in the Spokane area than in the other aerospace centers in Washington and Spokane’s utility costs are well below the national average.
Washington is aerospace friendly
According to the most recent Aerospace Competitive Economic Study (ACES) performed by the Teal Group, Washington State is the most competitive state in which to perform aerospace manufacturing. The below graphs illustrates its competitive advantage in virtually all categories assessed.
Available incentives
Several incentive opportunities are available to businesses locating in the Spokane airport area:
- Low utility rates
- Reduced general facilities charges and business license fees
- Tax credits, exemptions and deferrals
- Access to an Opportunity Zone, Foreign-Trade No. 224, and community empowerment zones
- Washington State aerospace industry incentives through the Department of Revenue
- Economic development, strategic reserve, and workforce training support through the Washington State Department of Commerce
Spokane is globally accessible.
The Spokane region is amply connected to the rest of the country and to the world via air, road, and rail. Furthermore, Spokane is a regional logistics center for Amazon and other companies. The Airport is a critical access point for logistics including air cargo, rail systems, and freight distribution east-west and north-south via Interstate 90 (I-90) and U.S. 395. Beyond the U.S., there are over 100 single stop connecting opportunities to over 60 unique international destinations in Asia, Australia and Oceania, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Central America and the Middle East.
Air Service
Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country and United offer scheduled passenger service to Spokane International Airport, with nonstop flights to 20+ cities, including multiple daily one-hour hops to Seattle. The Airport serves eastern Washington, northern Idaho, northwestern Montana, and parts of southern BC and Alberta, handling over 4.3 million passengers in 2025. For business aviation, U.S. Customs operates a Federal Inspection Station, with Aero Center and Signature Flight Support as FBOs.
Air Cargo
The Airport also has daily scheduled all-cargo service provided by UPS & FedEx. This includes a significant amount of cargo activity between Spokane and surrounding small rural communities provided by Ameriflight and Empire Airlines on behalf of UPS and FedEx.
Truck
Spokane is on a NAFTA high-priority highway corridor. Over 200 trucking companies operate in the Spokane region, providing significant east-west delivery options on Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 2, and north-south on U.S. Highway 395. Goods can be transported point-to-point from Spokane to Seattle within half a day’s drive. The metro areas of San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Denver and other commercial centers are within a 16 hour (2-day) drive of Spokane.
Logistics
Spokane is home to several regional logistics centers. Amazon operates two newly built facilities in the area, a 2.6 million square feet Fulfillment Center adjacent to Spokane International Airport and a 1.3 million square feet Fulfillment Center in Spokane Valley. Caterpillar operates a 1 million square feet parts distribution facility and Jensen Distribution Services operates a 529,000 SF warehouse that serves 11 states and carries over 65,000 products. Both are located just south and west of the Airport. Additional warehouse facilities are being constructed within the Airport Area.
Rail Truck Transload Center
The Rail-Truck Transload Center is one of four properties managed by Spokane International Airport. This brand-new facility expands the airport’s role beyond aviation and into multimodal freight, allowing goods to transfer seamlessly between rail cars and trucks.
The Airport area is the largest industrial development area in western Spokane County and served by three powerful development frameworks that reduce cost, accelerate timelines and improve returns.
S3R3 Public Development Authority
The PDA, also known as S3R3 Solutions, encompasses a 9,000 acre site and the Airport encompasses two thirds of that acreage. The PDA can partner with prospective companies to deliver infrastructure if desired, or to assist with permitting and coordination. Numerous incentives are available to companies locating in the PDA.
Example of Large-Scale Greenfield Industrial Development
The construction of Amazon’s new Fulfillment Center illustrates the benefits of Spokane’s collaboration. From initial conversation to project completion, Amazon was able to build its 2.6MM SF facility in 24 months (which would have been finished months earlier but Amazon slowed the pace of the project for internal reasons). Spokane is prepared to move quickly for your greenfield project
Committed Utility Partners
Spokane International Airport intends to develop a world-class aerospace focused transportation, logistics and advanced manufacturing center – and is supported by a strong network of public and private partners committed to the region’s growth:
- Avista Utilities provides electricity to nearly 340,000 customers and natural gas to about 300,000 customers across 30,000 square miles and four northwestern states.
- Inland Power provides electricity to approximately 40,000 members in 13 counties in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.
- The City of Spokane provides water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste collection for more than 70,000 residential and business customers within the City and adjacent areas with City utility services.
- Spokane County government is dedicated to enhancing and protecting the quality of life for all citizens through the pursuit of excellence in responsive, cost-effective and customer-driven services.
- Lumen is an information technology company that integrates network assets, cloud connectivity, security solutions and voice and collaboration tools into one platform that enables businesses to leverage their data and adopt next-generation technologies.
- Verizon Communications Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. The company offers voice, data and video services and solutions on its award winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.
Ready to explore what Spokane has to offer your business?
Contact our team to learn more about available land, incentives, and development opportunities at Spokane International Airport.