GRAND FORKS, N.D. – U.S. Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer, and North Dakota Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley joined the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and hundreds of manufacturing workers, local officials, business leaders, educators, and university students for a general aviation (GA) jobs rally on the campus of the University of North Dakota (UND), September 5, 2014. The event, GAMA’s twelfth jobs rally throughout the United States, celebrated general aviation’s positive contribution to the state’s economy.
The Grand Forks region is leading the country in aviation and unmanned aerial systems education and technology, providing real opportunities for high-paying careers in a dynamic field of work, U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) said. The University of North Dakota’s Odegaard School of Aerospace Sciences in Grand Forks, Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and world-class companies like Appareo Systems, Cirrus Aircraft, Piper Aircraft, and UTC Aerospace Systems in Jamestown, make Grand Forks and North Dakota a hub for aeronautics education and technical entrepreneurship.
“General aviation is more important to America’s economy than many people realize,” noted U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO). “It’s not just about flying planes; it’s about creating good-paying jobs and economic opportunity, not only in states like North Dakota and Missouri, but all across the country. General aviation is responsible for employing roughly 1.2 million people and contributes approximately $150 billion to the overall economy.”
GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce concluded, “Ensuring we have strong general aviation leaders in the future has been one of GAMA’s goals for years, which is why we are pleased to celebrate today’s jobs rally with so many bright, talented, and motivated young people. I am very confident these men and women will take an active role in the development of state-of-the-art products and technologies. Their aviation studies and future industry employment will bring even more skilled, good-paying jobs to North Dakota. We salute and thank the political, business, and education leaders in North Dakota for recognizing the importance of general aviation to their state and to the nation.
After the rally, UND hosted a Career Fair for students, and more than a dozen companies and organizations took part.
