Local leaders announce construction of $850M aircraft manufacturing plant set to come to Ohio - WLWT

What the report says

WLWT Cincinnati reported that local leaders announced Tuesday that Electra plans to build an $850 million aircraft manufacturing facility in Springfield, Ohio. The Manassas, Virginia-based company is expected to construct the plant next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport over the next several years, with construction slated to begin in 2027. The report said no completion date was immediately provided.

According to WLWT, the project is expected to create 1,975 jobs in the region. The facility will support production of Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft and will include the company’s original equipment manufacturing operation and headquarters. Electra said it reviewed more than 140 possible locations before choosing Springfield.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue framed the announcement as a major step for the Dayton-Springfield area’s advanced air mobility ambitions. DeWine said the project reinforces Ohio’s aviation role and could have a major impact on Clark County, while Rue said the development reflects years of local work to position Springfield as a hub for aerospace innovation and manufacturing.

WLWT noted that the planned plant follows other recent manufacturing investments in Ohio. The outlet also reported broader context from Bureau of Labor Statistics data: Ohio manufacturing employment has fallen substantially over the past three decades, though the sector has shown some recovery since 2020 while remaining well below historic levels.