Business leaders from across Alabama and Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth announced on Wednesday that a new entity, the Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council, has been established to catalyze the growth of aerospace and defense industries in the state.

“Alabama is the aerospace and defense capital of the world, but we need to adopt a 67 county approach to ensure that every portion of our state shares in the jobs and investments that these important industries provide,” Ainsworth said.

“More than 103 Alabama companies participate in the Artemis program that will soon take us back to the moon, and Mobile is on its way to becoming one of the largest commercial aerospace manufacturing cities on the planet, but even with these impressive benchmarks, we can do more.”

Alabama is the aerospace and defense capital of the world. The new Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council will ensure we continue to lead the way by advocating for policies that encourage the growth of Alabama’s already significant aerospace and defense industries. pic.twitter.com/e3al7FJRnw

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) November 6, 2024

RELATED: Alabama enacts new pro-military laws to support service members and their families

Ainsworth also addressed the issue of Space Command’s relocation and offered his reassurance that the council would be working hard to bring it to Alabama.

“This industry is going to continue to grow. Alabama in my opinion is the number one state in the country for aerospace and defense and I think this is so important. Very excited, think it’s going to be a game changer,” Ainsworth said. “One of the first things I’m going to encourage this council to do is push hard to get Space Command back to Alabama.”

“I think that was one of the worst things I saw in politics. You had three different independent reports that listed Alabama first. We should have got it, (but) because of politics I think it went to another state. I’m hopeful with a new administration that it will come back to Alabama. I certainly want to make sure this council is helping push to get Space Command back to its rightful place which is Alabama.”

RELATED: GAO: Alabama 1st, Colorado 5th for Space Command HQ

There are five military installations in Alabama and NASA has suppliers in all seven congressional districts. The total impact of the aerospace industry in Alabama is $17.4 billion, which represents 7.5% of the state’s GDP, and it currently provides 63,258 jobs. The total annual payroll impact is $4.3 billion. The total economic impact of military personnel and defense contracts in Alabama amounts to $50.3 billion, provides almost 265,000 jobs, and accounts for more than $19.3 billion in payroll.

300 aerospace and defense companies are already operating in Alabama. According to officials, the AADC is headquartered in the offices of Manufacture Alabama.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten