DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr., Mayor of Dayton, and Mackensie Wittmer, Executive Director of the National Aviation Heritage Area, held a press conference at the Wright Company Factory to discuss their collective efforts to rehabilitate the site following the March 2023 fire. Congressman Turner announced that the first version of the appropriations package for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development included his request for $4 million to rebuild the buildings that were damaged from the fire.
“The Wright Brothers Factory is an incredible and historic building. This location became operational to build airplanes in 1909, and it is part of the story of the aviation heritage in the area,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “I worked on the original legislation that authorized the park district to expand this to include this in our national park network. We have been working collaboratively, as a community, to try and restore these buildings to make them part of our fabric again in telling our story of our history with flight. I have been working with the House Appropriations Committee, and we have received their support for $4 million that will go to the overall costs of renovating this facility to tell the story of the Wright Brothers.”
“I'm thankful for Congressman Turner's sustained commitment to investing in our community and restoring the Wright Company Factory after this unprecedented fire,” said Mayor Jeffrey Mims. “The Wright Brothers' legacy is essential to telling the story of Dayton, Ohio, and I look forward to working with Congressman Turner to advance this critical project.”
“I commend Congressman Turner for his responsive actions to assess the fire damage and bring a national spotlight to this important heritage project. I am thankful that Congressman Turner and the City of Dayton Mayor, Jeffrey Mims, will continue to work together to bring resources to the Wright Company factory site,” said National Aviation Heritage Area Executive Director Mackensie Wittmer.
Background:
In the early morning of March 26, 2023, the Wright Company Factory buildings caught fire and sustained significant damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Congressman Mike Turner requested $4.5 million in Community Project Funding for this project. On July 12, 2023, the House Appropriations Committee - Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies included $4 million in their initial legislation for the Wright Company Factory. The full House Appropriations Committee approved the legislation on July 18, 2023. The City of Dayton is the intended recipient of the potential funds.
The House of Representatives is expected to take up government funding bills such as this later this year.
In 2008, Congressman Turner led legislation that brought Hawthorn Hill and the Wright Company Factory into the boundaries of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. This bill was included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which made the boundary change law in March 2009.
The 2009 boundary adjustment required the National Park Service to purchase two of the historic hangars at the factory. In 2018, $450,000 was appropriated for the National Park Service to initiate this process.
In July, Congressman Turner wrote to National Park Service Director Charles Sams requesting that the NPS purchase the Wright Company Factory buildings.