Colorado Springs joins local leaders in Alabama to support aerospace, defense industry

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs and Huntsville, Alabama, leaders came together today as part of a joint initiative to support strengthening the aerospace and defense industry in both cities.

According to city officials, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, along with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle Jr., and other regional leaders, held a joint press conference to discuss the joint presence in the aerospace and defense industry that both places have.

The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Discovery Trip marked its second day with the stop in Huntsville. According to officials, the trip brought 90 community, government and business leaders to Alabama to strengthen relationships.

Several speakers across both states came together to speak about development and future projects for both communities. City leaders said that as the two cities continue to compete for investments and jobs, their leaders focused on a common interest in supporting defense missions and evolving to meet changing national security challenges.

“Colorado Springs and Huntsville both play critical roles in our nation’s defense, and the threats facing our country are bigger than any competition between two cities,” Mayor Mobolade said in a press release. “This trip is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, learn from one another, and identify ways our communities can work together to support our national security mission, our warfighters, and the growing aerospace and defense industries in both regions. Colorado Springs remains one of America’s most important national security communities, and we will continue competing for investment, jobs, missions, and opportunities. But competition and collaboration are not mutually exclusive."

City officials say the meeting comes with growing federal investment in projects including Golden Dome. They say that is "U.S. homeland missile defense proposal" that both Huntsville and Colorado Springs will play significant roles in.

Officials say more than 70 aerospace and defense companies operate in both Colorado Springs and Huntsville. Huntsville is expected to be the permanent home to U.S. Space Command, which was re-established at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado in 2019, according to officials.