| It’s Friday. I’m actually off today for some quality time with my wife, a teacher whose school year starts Monday. But the newsletter show must go on. Building a flying car takes time. Joby Aviation — you remember that company, right? — is arguably the leader in the electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) industry. It has built three production prototypes of its current aircraft — and Joby has been around since 2009. And for a vertically integrated business making most of its own components, building a place to build that flying car? Yep. That also takes time. Joby Aviation says Dayton production will launch early next year What you need to know: Dayton is still prominent in Joby’s manufacturing plans. Joby continues to control a former air mail facility on Concorde Drive near Dayton International Airport, and we should begin to see retrofitting of that building next month, with production happening next year. The quote: “The market is huge, the demand is huge,” said Greg Bowles, 48, a Cleveland native and Joby’s head of government affairs. “I’m really excited. I grew up in Ohio. I’m really excited to see all these aircraft all over the world come out of Ohio.” The story. Please read it here. Speedway owner is a takeover target The situation: The owner of 7-Eleven and Speedway convenience stores has received a buyout offer from Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard. Japan’s Seven & i Holdings said a committee has been formed to review the bid, but released no other details. History: Recall that in 2020 Marathon Petroleum Corp. has agreed to sell what was then its Enon-based Speedway unit to the corporate parent of the 7-11 convenience store chain for $21 billion. Read the latest story. Innomark set to make its mark Credit: CONTRIBUTED How: Innomark Communications has announced the relocation and expansion of its Springboro digital printing operations. Where: An Innomark executive has said the visual merchandising company with hundreds of employees planned to spend $10 million to build a 97,000 square foot facility at 3253 S. Tech Blvd. off Ohio 741 near Dayton Wright Brothers Airport. Read the story. Union is officially an Amazon town Credit: Jim Noelker VIPs and the media finally got a chance to check out the big Amazon distribution facility in Union, not far from Procter & Gamble and all the other big distribution sites in that area. Wearing protective helmets and steel-toed shoe coverings, they came away impressed. Money quote: Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted sometimes likes to wax poetic about business and development. Here’s what he said Wednesday. “When you’re an Amazon community ... that says something about your capacity from a workforce point of view, from a logistics point of view, and from an infrastructure point of view. Here in the Dayton region, this area was once cornfields and a dream, and now it’s home to the most high-tech commerce on the globe. That is a great brand for Dayton.” Read the story. Tipp City positions itself for development near I-75 Years ago, I interviewed the then-head of the Ohio Department of Transportation about the possibility of a new interchange in the Middletown area with Interstate 75. He told me that as an economic resource, interstates are “priceless.” It’s hard to disagree. Writer Nancy Bowman tells us that Tipp City Council is being asked to consider issuing $4.5 million in bond anticipation notes for the purchase of 12.15 acres near West Main Street for development. Next steps: Council President Kathryn Huffman has been working with Woodard Development of Dayton on a plan for Tipp’s “Uptown Area,” along West Main Street on both sides of I-75 to the County Road 25A intersection. Read the story. How to contact me: Thank you for reading this newsletter, wherever you are. You can tell me about your business at [email protected]. Direct messages also always on at my Xwitter account. And if Facebook is more your speed, you can find me here and at our Dayton Business page here . Quick hits Trolley Stop owner is looking for a buyer. And for a chance to start a new chapter in her life. Two of my kids go to this game every year. ‘It’s a gigantic game’ -- Alter-Fairmont set to kick off high school football season. (And also: Fairmont wins.) This wasn’t the end he deserved. Joey Votto says farewell. It does sort of look like a Black Fly. This flying car soared on day two of the National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum. Area employment hits new (or actually old) heights: Here are the numbers. | 