Archived
This content is available here for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping.
Date Available
6-22-2026
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Graduate Capstone Project
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration
College
Graduate School
Department/School/Program
Public Administration
Faculty
Spiro Maroulis
Committee Member
Jeongyoon Lee
Faculty
Michael Childress
Abstract
Kentucky’s aerospace industry has quietly become one of the state’s most significant economic drivers, generating almost $19 billion in exports in 2024 and ranking third nationally in aerospace exports in 2023 (Mattingly, 2025; Babbage & Hartsough, 2024). Despite this, Kentucky remains largely invisible as an aerospace state, both to Kentuckians and national audiences. This work was conducted on behalf of our client, Kentucky Space Futures, to identify the factors shaping the growth of Kentucky’s aerospace industry, including its driving and limiting factors, and provide actionable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders.
Using a qualitative research design, this study triangulated findings from nine semi- structured stakeholder interviews across academia, private industry, and state government. It also incorporated a document analysis of state policies and economic incentives in peer and leading aerospace states, including Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Texas, California, and Colorado.
Three factors facilitating growth in Kentucky’s aerospace industry were identified: (1) a diverse aerospace economy that creates stability and longevity, yet decreases its visibility; (2) an aerospace ecosystem characterized by depth and technical specialization; and (3) an economic development policy environment working to fill gaps across the idea-to-commercialization pipeline. However, four factors were found to be limiting growth: (1) a lack of awareness of Kentucky as an aerospace state across both state and national audiences; (2) an underutilization of existing state incentive funds; (3) a shortage of space-related infrastructure and specialized facilities; and (4) limited cross-sector coordination and information sharing among industry stakeholders.
Overall, our findings suggest that Kentucky's most urgent opportunities for growth lie not in creating new programs, but in better connecting and communicating existing ones.
Recommended Citation
Grospitch, Ashley M. and Sibold, Isabella A., "Kentucky Space Futures: Defining the Driving and Limiting Factors of Growth in the State Aerospace Industry" (2026). MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects. 483.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/mpampp_etds/483
