Norman Economic Development Coalition

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma Aviation Academy in Norman ? To construct and operate the first comprehensive, multi-level aviation and aerospace educational facility in Oklahoma, with a vision to accelerate workforce and business development. Already a national leader in the industry, Oklahoma has a critical demand for highly skilled trained workers yet ranks very low nationally in terms of STEM education. This program will provide industry-connected education pathways for students to connect directly with higher education, career tech, and industry partners, ensuring career readiness in the high-demand areas of aviation and aerospace. This is essential to grow Oklahoma?s robust aviation and aerospace economy and cementing our state as a premier destination for industry. We intend to transform Oklahoma into a top-five state for science, technology, engineering, and math education. Capitalizing on Norman?s geographic location and rich history in flight, this facility will host programs for high school students throughout the Metro, working in partnership with the University of Oklahoma, MNTC, and the NEDC. In addition to engaging an aerospace-focused curriculum, ancillary hands-on career and industry experiences will transform the traditional education environment to authentically connect student learning to high-tech industry readiness. Attached is a recently completed Feasibility Study, and an Aerospace Targeted Study.

EVIDENCE

NPS will provide annual reports regarding state testing, student performance, and demographic data as well as college admission and graduation data, completion of industry certifications in airframe and powerplant maintenance, and job placement rates in these respective fields. NEDC has purchased industry leading software, EMSI, to track employment across sub-sectors of the labor force. This program will be overseen by an advisory board with representation from our community and business partners to ensure oversight and success. Please review the Feasibility Report, Targeted Industry Study, Tinker Hiring Forecast, and EMSI Industry Analysis.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Nearly every industry was impacted by the pandemic. However, the people most impacted were those with low skills, employed in non-essential industries. This new program is based on desire, not tests, and intends to give disadvantaged individuals the opportunity to achieve financial independence. Because this program is open to multiple counties and dozens of qualified census tracts made up of Native Americans, minorities, females, and veterans we expect significantly more than 51% of enrollees to fall within these sub-categories. Norman Public Schools is also a 51% Free and Reduced Lunch district. Every other student who walks NPS hallways qualifies for this assistance. As a reflection of the community, this means our families have been particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 including academic gaps for many students (exacerbated among traditionally under-served populations) that jeopardized connection to school, graduation, career or industry certification or college degree completion, and career-readiness for high-tech STEM fields such as Aerospace. Within a 45-minute commute, we have a population of 1.2 million: 50.87 % female; 178,440 Hispanic; 134,160 Black; 72,240 Multi-racial; 50,880 Native American, 40,920 Asian, and 1,200 Native Hawaiian. In addition, there are 84,623 veterans.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The freshman class will start in Fall 2022 with an expected enrollment of ~60 students from throughout the region, in Norman Public Schools high school space. By the fourth year, we expect a capacity of ~2,000 aerospace-focused students, graduating between 400-500 annually. We expect this school to perform at or above Norman Public Schools rigorous standards for excellence as measured by state and college testing data, graduation rates, etc.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma