Grant will boost Wisconsin aerospace cluster

The state has received a $3.1 million federal grant that will be used to help develop an aerospace cluster and other initiatives along the Interstate 41 corridor in Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Brown and Calumet counties, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. said Tuesday.

The grant was received from the Department of Defense and will support a new effort called Initiative 41, which is headed by the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and supported by more than 20 partners, WEDC said in a news release. The effort will focus on collaboration for economic development, entrepreneurship and industry diversification to make the region less susceptible to declines in defense spending.