Palmdale’s position as a center for aerospace and defense is getting a federal boost with a $944,402 grant focused on U.S. Air Force Plant 42 and the surrounding industrial areas.
The funding from the U.S. Department of War Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) Installation Readiness Program will launch the Plant 42 Installation Readiness Project, bringing the City, Air Force, regional agencies and other stakeholders together to address infrastructure and land-use needs tied to the installation’s future and continued aerospace development.
Plant 42 is one of the nation’s premier aerospace and defense manufacturing and flight test facilities. The Air Force-owned, contractor-operated installation anchors an industry cluster that includes Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and supports thousands of high-quality jobs across Palmdale and the Antelope Valley.
The Air Force Industrial Plants Division, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the Air Force’s executive agent in managing Plant 42, including facilities management. The plant is also part of the Edwards Air Force Base industrial complex, the largest employer in the Antelope Valley. An Edwards detachment at Plant 42 operates the airfield, supports flight operations and provides airfield security, among other essential services. First flights for advanced military aircraft often begin at Plant 42 and end about 20 miles away at Edwards, where new aircraft undergo intensive, highly structured developmental flight testing.
“Plant 42 has been part of Palmdale’s identity and economy for generations, and its success is closely connected to the success of our community,” said Palmdale Mayor Eric Ohlsen. “This grant gives us an opportunity to work even more closely with the Air Force and our regional partners as we plan for the future and make sure Palmdale remains a place where aerospace can continue to grow and create good jobs.”
The project also reinforces the City’s strategic efforts to attract new investment and skilled employment. With an established aerospace ecosystem, experienced workforce and available land near Plant 42, Palmdale offers opportunities for companies seeking to locate or expand within one of the region’s most significant concentrations of aerospace and defense activity.
As Palmdale and the Antelope Valley continue to develop, coordinated planning will help address the needs of both the military installation and the surrounding community. The OLDCC Installation Readiness Program is designed to help defense communities work with military installations and other partners on shared infrastructure, land-use and community development priorities.
“Aerospace is a huge part of what makes Palmdale unique, but it is also a major part of where our economy is headed,” said Mayor Pro Tem Austin Bishop. “This funding allows us to bring the right people to the table, look ahead and make thoughtful decisions that support Plant 42 while also creating opportunities for our residents and businesses.”
The award strengthens the connection between Plant 42’s long-term readiness and Palmdale’s broader economic development strategy, helping the City prepare for future aerospace activity while building on an industry that has shaped the community for generations.
For questions, please contact Eric Eide, Deputy Director of Economic & Community Development, at eeide@cityofpalmdaleca.gov.