Snohomish County Furthers Reputation as Hub for Cutting-Edge Aerospace Technologies

Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) proudly joined the Washington State delegation during the 2025 Paris Air Show on June 16–22 at Le Bourget Airport.

Considered one of the world’s most influential and premier aerospace exhibitions, the event was a pivotal opportunity to showcase Snohomish County’s leading role in shaping the future of the global aerospace and manufacturing sector.

“Attending the Paris Air Show allows Economic Alliance Snohomish County to showcase our world-class aerospace cluster on a global stage, forge strategic partnerships, and attract investment that fuels innovation and job growth across our region. Over the course of the week, we met with 20-plus companies and organizations from 10 countries. The list includes companies with operations in Snohomish County, companies we are recruiting to the region, government partners, and academic institutions,” said EASC’s Director of Economic Development, Daniel Tappana. “I also had the opportunity to participate in the Global Aerospace Cluster Partnership (GACP) Summit, where I engaged with cluster leaders from around the world to exchange insights and strategies for growing the aerospace industry. With over 70 participants from more than 16 countries, it was the largest summit yet. We had insightful discussions as well as great speakers.”

Innovative Pipeline in Action

During the event, Washington State Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn and Snohomish County Councilmember Strom Peterson joined Portal Space Systems in announcing plans to expand their footprint in Bothell with the addition of a 50,000 sq. ft. facility. The site will be located just a few miles from its current headquarters, which is home to Portal’s flagship spacecraft, Supernova, the first commercial next-gen spacecraft offering long-range mission possibilities for both commercial and defense customers.

Portal is also looking to significantly grow its workforce, which will result in the creation of over 100 new, high-impact jobs for the region over the next two to three years. The increased capacity will enable the cutting-edge aerospace manufacturer to rapidly scale up operations in support of its goal of producing one advanced spacecraft per month by 2027.

“With growing demand from both our commercial and defense partners, this new facility marks the next strategic step in Portal’s evolution,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems, in a recent press release by the company. “By expanding our footprint in Bothell, we’re doubling down on local talent, proximity to core operations, and a growing aerospace ecosystem supported by state leadership.”

The decision also reinforces Snohomish County’s reputation as a focal point for the state's aerospace industry, home to approximately 350 cutting-edge, aerospace-related companies such as Boeing.

“This is a great example of our region’s innovation pipeline in action,” said Tappana.

Every STEP of the Way 

Businesses in the Snohomish region are encouraged to consider joining the EASC and key industry leaders at future delegations, which include the 2026 Farnborough Air Show and the 2027 Paris Air Show. 

Small businesses that incur expenses related to trade shows and trade mission fees, airfare, interpreter and translation services, and export training may be eligible for reimbursement through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Export Voucher Program. Created in partnership with the U.S. Small Business State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), the cash reimbursements are awarded to qualifying businesses to help offset the cost of expanding into the international market. 

For more information about future delegations or the STEP Program, contact Dan Tappana by clicking here!