Layton, Utah is directly adjacent to and has historically provided primary access to Hill Air Force Base (Hill AFB), Utah’s largest single-site employer with over 26,000 employees and a $12.76 billion annual economic impact. Hill AFB facilitates seamless partnerships on defense contracts, aircraft maintenance, including the F-35 Lightning II program, and testing at the adjacent Utah Test and Training Range. Companies like Northrup Grumman, KIHOMAC, Janicki Industries, Rantec, WesTest, and ES3 already leverage this for repair, logistics, research and development, and sustainment work, reducing transportation costs and enhancing operational efficiency.
Skilled and Growing Workforce
Layton benefits from the Utah Aerospace Pathways program, initiated by Boeing in 2014, that trains high school and college students in composites, engineering, and avionics through partnerships with Weber State University and Talent Ready Utah apprenticeships. This pipeline ensures a young, educated talent pool, median state age of 30, with specialized programs in cybersecurity, machine learning, and deep tech, making recruitment and retention easier and more cost-effective. In addition, the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (NUAMES) Hill AFB partners with Hill AFB, accepting internships into their 309th Software Engineering Group (SWEG) volunteer program.
Business-Friendly Incentives and Low Operational Costs
The state of Utah’s myriad tax credit programs for creating high-paying jobs and capital investments, with Layton-specific support from the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, including grants like the $10 million Utah Manufacturing Modernization Grant for relocation and modernization. The state provides no corporate income tax on certain incentives, low regulatory burdens, and fast broadband deployment. Combined with affordable housing and living costs compared to coastal hubs, this reduces overhead while fostering growth—evidenced by expansions like KIHOMAC’s recent multi-million investments, creating several jobs.
High Quality of Life and Talent Retention
Layton’s vibrant community, top-rated schools, and proximity to outdoor recreation, such as the Wasatch Front Mountains for skiing and hiking, attract and retain engineers and families in a competitive field. With easy access to Salt Lake City (just 25 miles south) via I-15, UTA Frontrunner Commuter Rail and other public transit, it balances suburban affordability with urban amenities, minimizing turnover. This lifestyle edge has drawn relocations from nearby high-cost states.
Thriving Ecosystem and Networking Opportunities
Layton anchors a cooperative network via the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Davis County Economic Development, and 47G (Utah’s aerospace advocacy group), connecting firms like Northrop Grumman, Janicki Industries, and KIHHOMAC for supply chain synergies and federal contracts. Events like the Utah Aerospace and Defense Industry Day facilitate partnerships, while Utah Apex Accelerator aids small businesses in securing Department of Defense work.
Combined with Utah’s highly educated workforce and high quality of life that helps attract and retain talent, Layton delivers a compelling mix of defense synergy, cost advantage, and growth potential for aerospace and defense contractors.