Working To Attract Aviation Companies, Develop Workforce

Nearly everyone in the aviation industry connects the word "Oshkosh" with aviation ... and as AirVenture has expanded beyond homebuilt and sport aircraft, so has the perception of the city changed among the aviation community.

The city of Oshkosh is actively looking for ways to capitalize on that perception and expand it. Wendy Hielsberg, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Northwestern newspaper that aviation already gives "great brand recognition" to the city. "We use that as our No. 1 lead-off for marketing."

While AirVenture has expanded to include segments like business jets and helicopters, it still has a reputation for celebrating recreational aviation. City leaders are now looking to expand on that reputation and attract more aviation-related businesses to the area. The city recently opened an 80-acre business park near Wittman Regional Airport, and a marketing effort is underway. Audra Hoy, director of business and economic development for the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corp, told The Northwestern that EAA and AirVenture have branded Oshkosh as a place for aviation. "Now we're saying that Oshkosh is open for business, too," she said.

There is also a trained workforce ready to go to work in Oshkosh. Fox Valley Technical College is the only school in Wisconsin that trains students in avionics, aviation electronics and other aviation-related fields, making its graduates valuable to the industry.

FMI: http://greateroshkosh.com, https://visitoshkosh.com