Radiance Technologies and the United Auto Workers have approached government decision-makers with the idea of training former auto workers in Montgomery and Clark counties for intelligence analysis.

The idea would put displaced manufacturing workers in jobs that would pay up to $50,000 annually.

But while state and local leaders have been briefed, Colin Morrow, a Radiance director of special projects, cautioned that the idea has only just been aired.

"At this point, I don't think there has been any funding identified for this at all," said Joe Tuss, Montgomery County economic development director.

Based in Huntsville, Ala., Radiance — a systems engineering and technology development firm working for government — has two local offices, in Fairborn and on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The company has 300 employees worldwide.

Radiance's concept — called the National Open Source Center of Excellence of Ohio — would train former auto workers in open source analysis, reviewing information in public records, media reports, ham radio data, worldwide satellite photography, documents from conferences and more, said those familiar with the idea.

According to a Radiance Power Point presentation, Radiance and SAIC (Science Applications International Corp.) would train employees in the Miami Valley and the Cleveland area.

"It's something that's exciting, and it's something that the county can support," said Deborah Lieberman, a Montgomery County commissioner.

Standing the project up in its first year may take $1 million, with 75 percent of that amount possibly coming from government and 25 percent from Radiance, Tuss said.

Tony Curington, former vice president of United Auto Workers Local 696, said the search for funding continues. In the first year, the pilot project would open 10 positions. But over five years, it could employ up to 5,000, Curington said.