Global aerospace company will add 325 new jobs in Buncombe County
Asheville, N.C. – Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business (NYSE: RTX), will expand its turbine airfoil manufacturing plant in Buncombe County, a significant vote of confidence in Western North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein announced today. The company’s expansion project will create 325 additional jobs and includes an additional investment of $285 million in Asheville.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. More than 17,000 customers operating in more than 200 countries and territories use Pratt & Whitney engines, with more than 90,000 engines currently in service. The company’s Asheville facility, first announced in October 2020, produces high-tech turbine airfoils, an important component in aircraft jet engines. The company’s new project will expand its production capacity to meet growing customer demand.
“Pratt & Whitney’s continued investment in Asheville is critical to meet the growing demand for our products, such as the GTF for the A320 family and the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II,” said Asheville General Manager Dan Field for Pratt & Whitney. “We would like to thank the state, Buncombe County and Governor Stein for their support on this project. This latest round of investment will allow us to add critical process elements for the manufacture of turbine airfoils and increase the overall delivery output of this facility, enabling us to deliver on our customer commitments while creating hundreds of new jobs in the Asheville community.”
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $62,413, compared with an average wage in Buncombe County of $54,416. The new positions will bring an annual payroll impact to the community of more than $20 million per year.
“The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners is proud to congratulate Pratt & Whitney on their expansion plans,” Chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Amanda Edwards said. “Economic resilience remains an urgent priority in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the commitments announced today will continue to drive the recovery of Buncombe County households in the years ahead. Private sector partners like Pratt & Whitney are an essential part of the Asheville Comeback.”
“Sustained, responsible and innovative economic growth is the core mission of the Economic Development Coalition, and our Board is pleased to support this great community partner,” stated EDC Board Chair Sabrina Rockoff. “The Asheville Region has emerged as a growing hub for the aerospace industry, and Pratt & Whitney’s decision to expand in Buncombe County is a testament to the region’s deep talent pool and industry-leading partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.”
Partnering with Buncombe County and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County were the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the North Carolina Department of Revenue, N.C. Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Golden LEAF Foundation, the Office of Congressman Chuck Edwards, Biltmore Farms LLC and Duke Energy.
For more information about the company and career opportunities at Pratt & Whitney, visit www.prattwhitney.com.
About the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County
The Economic Development Coalition (EDC) for Asheville-Buncombe County is a 30-year public-private partnership committed to: creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its five core services: business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, marketing and recruitment, workforce development and Riverbird Research. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the AVL 5×5 Campaign. For more information, visit www.ashevillechamber.org/economic-development.
About Asheville Chamber of Commerce
For 125 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has been the catalyst for economic vitality in our community. Asheville Chamber initiatives have stimulated economic development, influenced public policy and supported the growth of thousands of local and regional businesses.
Today, the Asheville Chamber:
Together with its members and partners, the Asheville Chamber nurtures a healthy business environment to create a better quality of life and future for the people who call our region home. Learn more at www.ashevillechamber.org.
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