California’s County of Ventura’s Economic Vitality Unit has been awarded USD 550,000 to establish an advanced air mobility (AAM) innovation centre. The grant is part of a USD 9 million Catalyst predevelopment funding programme from Uplift Central Coast, an organisation which provides strategic grants to support community-driven projects that promote equity, sustainability, and regional resilience. The County’s project was selected as one of 36 regional initiatives across six Central Coast counties that support economic vitality.
The planned innovation centre will feature a 500 square mile testing range for AAM at Camarillo and Oxnard Airports. It will offer research facilities, business resources, and workforce training. The County airports will manage testing for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Testing will adhere to US Federal Aviation Administration protocols and comprise about 5 percent of daily airport activities. Ventura County businesses will gain access to unique testing facilities, naval technology transfers, workforce development support, and new business collaboration opportunities in the AAM sector.
The innovation centre involves four key partners: the County of Ventura’s Economic Vitality Unit, the County’s Department of Airports, FutureLabs/Fathomwerx, and the Ventura County Community College District. The Economic Vitality Unit will manage the centre’s programming, while the Department of Airports provides facilities and manages airspace testing. FutureLabs/Fathomwerx will facilitate technology transfer between private companies and Naval Base Ventura County. The Ventura County Community College District will develop career pathways and workforce training programmes.
Predevelopment activities will begin immediately, with funding to be invested by summer 2026.
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