Butler Tech outlines aviation campus build, enrollment and industry partnerships

Butler Tech officials told Butler County commissioners on April 15 that construction of a new aviation campus at Middletown Airport is on schedule and backed by a mix of county, state and local funding.

The update, delivered by Mr. John Graff, highlighted construction progress, program growth and private-sector partnerships. Graff said foundational work began in January, masonry and structural steel are in place, sanitary rough-ins and utilities are under way and the campus is expected to open in the winter of 2026.

The commissioners were given enrollment and funding details that place the county’s contribution at the center of the project. "This building project for our aviation campus in Middletown at the Middletown Airport is a $15,000,000 project of which $7,000,000 came from the county commissioner," Graff said. He said JobsOhio provided $1,000,000 and the city of Middletown contributed $500,000, with Butler Tech contributing an additional $7,000,000 for the 29,000-square-foot facility that will include about an 8,000-square-foot aviation hangar.

Why it matters: County funds helped close the financing gap on a technical-education facility that county officials say will expand career pathways and local workforce capacity. Commissioners and university partners framed the project as a regional workforce investment designed to retain graduates and attract employers.

Graff told the board Butler Tech currently has 63 students enrolled in aviation this year and expects the program to grow to roughly 200 students at full capacity. He said Butler Tech had received approval for a Part 147 airframe and powerplant program so students can pursue FAA certifications and that the school expects students to work toward industry credentials on site.

Graff described a multi-year, hands-on project with private industry: "We are working with a company called Tango Flight in which students over the period of 3 years will build a FAA certified plane that will be certified by the FAA and will be sold at auction," he said, adding proceeds would be reinvested in the program. He also told commissioners Butler Tech recently signed a memorandum of understanding with CTL Aerospace and said roughly 30 companies overall have committed agreements across aviation and the AMHUB advanced-manufacturing project.

Miami University’s role and regional coordination were emphasized by Randy Thomas, who identified himself as vice president of Aspire at Miami University. "This is not a co-location where two entities are there. This is like a marriage," Thomas said, describing an intent to integrate Miami’s polytechnic offerings with Butler Tech’s hands-on training.

Program performance and scale were part of the presentation. Graff cited rising technical-skill attainment rates — reporting a progression from 76% to 81% to 87% passage rates on program assessments — and said Butler Tech expects to serve about 18,000 high-school students and nearly 14,000 adult-education learners in total across its programs. He also said about 18 new job postings (teaching and support) would be added for the coming school year to expand program delivery.

Commissioners asked about student employment outcomes and flood risk at the construction site. Graff said outcomes vary by program — many public-safety and advanced-manufacturing trainees already have job offers while many healthcare students seek new employment — and that the site had not been affected by high water when the Miami River overflowed.

The board and presenters discussed outreach and community engagement plans: commissioners suggested staged public tours ahead of a formal opening so taxpayers can see progress; administrators and Butler Tech said they would coordinate with Miami University, Ohio Means Jobs and local airport stakeholders on visits and operations.

Graff and Miami University staff invited commissioners to visit the AMHUB and aviation sites and offered staff contacts for tracking metrics and economic impact. Graff named himself and Paul Carpenter, Butler Tech’s chief financial officer, as points of contact for county staff seeking detailed enrollment and economic-impact metrics.

Looking ahead: Graff said the campus opening and expanded industry partnerships will continue into 2026, with the aviation program ramping toward full enrollment and additional employer agreements.