The Ascentus Aerospace Hub at Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is a strategic aerospace and defense campus designed for companies seeking a competitive location to manufacture, innovate, test, and grow. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ascentus offers more than 1,300 acres of development opportunities ranging from shovel-ready sites to large-scale development tracts, including airfield-access property, rail-served industrial sites, and flexible commercial and light industrial land capable of supporting projects of virtually any scale—including a 1,000-acre megasite for transformational manufacturing investments.

Positioned in the geographic center of the United States, Ascentus provides direct access to Interstate highways, Class I rail service, commercial air transportation, and global freight networks, enabling the efficient movement of people, products, and supply chains throughout North America and beyond.

Ascentus is located within one of North America's most capable aerospace and defense manufacturing ecosystems. Iowa is home to more than 180 aerospace and defense companies employing over 19,000 professionals across avionics, aerospace electronics, advanced manufacturing, composites, precision machining, MRO, and defense technologies. Anchored by global industry leaders such as Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, the region has developed a deeply integrated supply chain supported by one of the nation's strongest manufacturing economies. Manufacturing accounts for 17% of Iowa's Gross State Product, employs 14.6% of the state's workforce, and benefits from industrial energy costs approximately 28% below the U.S. average, creating a highly competitive environment for advanced production.

The region offers an exceptional workforce pipeline spanning research engineers, skilled trades, and advanced manufacturing technicians. The University of Iowa advances aerospace innovation through the Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory and the Operator Performance Laboratory, supporting NASA missions, flight-test programs, advanced avionics, and autonomous systems research. Iowa State University prepares aerospace engineers through its nationally recognized ABET-accredited program while conducting leading research in aerodynamics, propulsion, spacecraft systems, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.

Complementing these research institutions is Iowa's nationally recognized community college system, which delivers industry-focused education and customized workforce training. Kirkwood Community College, located minutes from Ascentus, and Indian Hills Community College, along with other community colleges across the state, produce highly skilled technicians, machinists, CNC operators, welders, industrial maintenance specialists, electronics technicians, automation professionals, and precision manufacturing talent. These institutions work directly with industry to develop customized training programs that ensure employers have access to the skilled workforce needed to support advanced manufacturing, aerospace production, MRO, and defense operations.

Whether establishing a new North American manufacturing operation, expanding aerospace production capacity, or developing next-generation aerospace and defense technologies, the Ascentus Aerospace Hub provides the available land, multimodal infrastructure, competitive operating environment, and world-class engineering and manufacturing workforce needed for long-term success.