Aerospace Company Investing $55M In North Carolina

Spirit AeroSystems North Carolina, Inc. will expand its Kinston, NC operations with help from a performance-based grant from Lenoir County.

Spirit AeroSystems North Carolina, Inc. will be expanding its operations in Lenoir County, NC. The company will invest more than $55.7 million in Kinston over the next five years. Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. Based in Wichita, KS, with sites in North America, Europe and Asia, Spirit AeroSystems’ core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components.

Lenoir County North Carolina
Photo: Spirit AeroSystems

“Spirit is honored to be part of the Lenoir County community, and we are thrilled to partner with the county on this project to increase our investment in our North Carolina site,” said Terry George, vice president/general manager of Spirit’s North Carolina Operations. “As we further invest in our site to meet the needs of our customer, we will be creating opportunities to support job growth and positively contribute to the regional economy. This projected future capital investment will improve our capacity to deliver world-class aerostructures.”

“In 2008, Spirit announced their choice location as the NC Global TransPark in Kinston North Carolina for an expansion,” said Representative George Graham. “Since then Spirit has created jobs and has made considerable investment to our community and State. We are thankful for what they have accomplished and wish them continued success.”

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $1,478,729 from Lenoir County. The company will receive no money up front and must meet investment performance standards to qualify for reimbursement. Local governments utilize these grants to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity.

“We continue to be pleased with the increasing footprint of Spirit,” said Lenoir County Board of Commissioners Chair Craig Hill. “Their investment and corporate partnership in our community plays a vital role in the growth of Lenoir County and Eastern North Carolina.”

“We are excited to see Spirit assert itself with this major expansion investment at The Global TransPark,” said Executive Director of NC Global TransPark and Foreign Trade Zone Allen Thomas. “This sends a clear signal to the competitive stance of this community as Lenoir County and partners works diligently to bring new opportunity and jobs to this region. This expansion further reinforces North Carolina’s position as one of the top four states in aerospace manufacturing in the nation and sends a message to the quality of skilled labor in eastern North Carolina.”

In addition to Lenoir County and Lenoir County Economic Development, other partners that helped with this project include North Carolina Community College System, Lenoir Community College, North Carolina’s Southeast Regional Economic Development Partnership, and Lenoir Committee of 100, Inc.

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