Newsletter: Dayton and nuclear power
Dayton long had a role in the development of nuclear power. I work in a downtown building called “The Manhattan,” which was home to Monsanto in 1945, and its work supporting the “Dayton Project” in 1945, an effort to produce polonium during World War II.
That’s just the tip of the atomic iceberg. Research and work at Miamisburg’s Mound complex and the Univeristy of Dayton have continued that legacy.
Space power: Why the keenest minds in space and nuclear power visited Dayton this week
⚛️ What happened: The American Nuclear Society’s NETS 2026 conference drew to Dayton this week some of the sharpest minds concerned with harnessing the atom to power space exploration and defense.
For Chadwick Barklay, a University of Dayton Research Institute scientist and director of UD’s Space & Power Systems research division, this moment represented a “full circle” return.
With $4M+ purchase, Boston developer eyes new area industrial park
🏗️ Setting the stage: With a new industrial park in mind, a limited liability company tied to a Massachusetts real estate investor recently spent just over $4 million on several parcels of property in Union and Butler Twp., near the Dayton International Airport.
The purchasing company, First Highland Management & Development, will develop an industrial park on about 50 acres, to be called Highland Park At Union, Kevin Smith, a vice president for First Highland, told the Dayton Daily News Tuesday, April 28.
What he said: “We anticipate developing multiple buildings that could total up to one million square feet,” Smith said. “Construction will start on the first building in the third quarter of this year. We feel the overall Dayton industrial market is very strong, and are excited to work with the city of Union on this project.”
Sticker shock as gas prices rise further
⛽ Gas up: Drivers are burning through gas money as the average price for gas jumped to $4 per gallon (and higher) in the Dayton region.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Tony Russell of Middletown, at the Sunoco gas station off of Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights, where prices were $3.99 per gallon on Tuesday, April 28.
Drivers will likely have some sticker shock at the pump, said Morgan Dean, manager of public and government affairs at the AAA Club Alliance Inc.
Millions for new Wright-Patt lab approved
✈️ The news: The Air Force has approved $6.4 million toward design and engineering of a $135 million Advanced Materials Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner announced.
Why it matters: Turner and base advocates have pushed for these funds for some time. The project will support the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, known as AFRL/RX.
The project will involve not just a new laboratory, but the construction of new internal circulation bridges connecting Wright-Patterson buildings 20653 to 20655, and building 20655 to the new laboratory, Turner’s office said.
And: As part of the project, an existing building, numbered 20654, will be demolished and the site restored to green space.
What hundreds of high school students saw at Wright-Patterson
🛫 Air power: Offering nearly 900 Ohio and Kentucky high schools students a glimpse of life in “the wild blue yonder,” Wright-Patterson Air Force Base opened its gates Thursday, April 30, for “All Star Leadership Day,” the first time the base has hosted the Air Force student outreach event.
The event strives to offer students an idea of what it’s like to serve in the Air Force, Space Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
What they said: One student, 17, admitted that he had never considered a career in the Air Force or Space Force.
“But I think maybe today I might change my mind,” he told me. “Most of this stuff is pretty cool and interesting.”
Contact me: As always, thanks for being here. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com or on my Facebook page here.
Roundup
BEST OF DAYTON: Voting is open now.
Beavercreek taxes: What you need to know.
Dayton history: The Dayton Speedway and more.
Tis the season: For spotting the morel mushroom.
Rent rumblings: How tenants deal with higher rents.