Oklahoma § 74-5003.12 - Aerospace Commerce Economic Services Act – Purpose –

§ 74-5003.12. Aerospace Commerce Economic Services Act – Purpose –

Aerospace and Defense Industry Integrator.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Aerospace

Commerce Economic Services Act”.

B. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Department of

Commerce, the Aerospace Commerce Economic Services (ACES), whose

purpose shall be to create a partnership of service providers to

more effectively respond to the needs of the aviation, aerospace and

defense industries in the areas of education and training, research,

and economic development. ACES will focus available resources to

promote cooperation and collaboration among businesses,

manufacturers, military installations, commercial aviation,

educational institutions, nonprofit research institutions and state

government for the purpose of strengthening the economy of this

state. Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Oklahoma

Department of Commerce may employ established program processes or

may contract with other qualified entities to operate ACES. The

Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall partner with the Oklahoma

Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to implement the provisions

of this section.

C. ACES is designed to coordinate and integrate the various

aerospace resources that currently exist within state and local

agencies. The primary goal of ACES is to establish a common

statewide strategy for the growth of the Oklahoma aerospace

industry. ACES will focus the collective aerospace resources, all

or new aerospace resources, to achieve one or more of the following

objectives into an integrated, coordinated statewide effort that

will:

1. Increase contracts between companies in the aviation,

aerospace and defense industries in this state and the Department of

Defense and its prime contractors;

2. Create and retain more high-wage, high-skill jobs;

3. Strengthen collaborations between businesses and aviation,

aerospace and defense interests;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

4. Reduce the flow of federal defense contract dollars out of

state;

5. Expand the aviation, aerospace and defense industries in

this state;

6. Provide engineering and technical assistance;

7. Provide more suppliers for Oklahoma military installations

and the aviation, aerospace and defense industries;

8. Reduce costs for the Department of Defense and Oklahoma

military installations and increase the competitiveness of aviation,

aerospace and defense businesses in this state;

9. Create and align goals to grow aerospace business to a top

industry in this state by providing a forum to bring agencies,

industry and government together;

10. Enhance Oklahoma’s supply chain utilization in the industry

to fill existing gaps in supplier networks;

11. Develop a recruitment strategy to attract new businesses

that reside or have a presence in this state; and

12. Create a forum for all aerospace stakeholders in this state

to come together to pool ideas and resources to advance aerospace in

the state. State aerospace stakeholders include but are not limited

to Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma Department of Veterans

Affairs, Tinker Air Force Base, all Oklahoma military installations,

chambers of commerce, Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority,

Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, federal

Small Business Administration, Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster

Initiative of Oklahoma and Kansas, Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance,

Oklahoma CareerTech, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science

and Technology, Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma, Unmanned

Aerial Systems Council and Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network.

D. ACES shall establish an Aerospace and Defense Industry

Integrator. The integrator shall be used to engage key players from

the government, academia and other key stakeholders to create an

industry-wide vision and strategic map that details a plan to

enhance the industry. The integrator shall initiate the following

activities:

1. Assessing the current state of the industry, developing and

defining a vision for the future of the industry;

2. Identifying supplier network gaps and developing solutions

to fill those gaps;

3. Identifying funding requirements and developing funding

opportunities; and

4. Establishing ongoing mechanisms to monitor activities and

devising a process that includes the development and reporting of

metrics to track and manage ongoing progress.

E. In order to streamline the use of resources with the goal of

eliminating duplication of efforts, ACES shall act as a facilitator

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

for the collection and sharing of information and activities

concerning the aviation, aerospace and defense industries. ACES

shall provide coordination and assistance for the plans and

activities of state agencies, task forces, departments, boards,

commissions and other entities that have responsibilities or duties

regarding the aviation, aerospace and defense industries with the

goal of eliminating duplication of effort.

F. ACES shall support and foster the growth of the aviation,

aerospace and defense industries. ACES shall acquire aerospace

executive expertise and provide consulting services to the aviation,

aerospace and defense industries, government agencies and

organizations across this state in order to strengthen the policy

framework, economic development initiatives and activities of the

state.

G. ACES may accept funding that includes, but is not limited

to:

1. Monetary contributions;

2. Contractual arrangements;

3. In-kind services;

4. Federal- and state-appropriated dollars;

5. Private and public foundation grants; and

6. Fee-for-service products.

Added by Laws 2018, c. 278, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018. Amended by Laws

2023, c. 126, § 26, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.