Indiana leapt to the top of the 2016 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings, earning the state a reputation as one of the top aerospace producers in the U.S.
The Hoosier state, which was ranked 18th in the country last year, demonstrated significant industry growth with more than $900 million invested in the past two years and 1,200 new jobs committed, the report stated. Indiana also benefited from changes in its tax structure.
It might not be an aerospace behemoth like Washington or California, but Indiana is making its mark.
“The openness of government regulation on businesses is better than a lot of states,” said Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “We’re typically ranked in the top handful of states that are good to do business. We have a long history of skilled manufacturing.”
Aerospace has long played an important role in Indiana’s economy. Companies such as Rolls-Royce and Alcoa have been industry staples for years. More recently, companies have doubled down on their holdings, pumping almost $1 billion into the state.
Read more: Aerospace manufacturing in Indiana bolstered by $900M in past two years