Expansion 'Necessary To Meet Projected Increase in
Demand'
Gulfstream Aerospace
has announced plans for a $300 million, 7-year expansion of
its manufacturing and service facilities in Savannah, Ga. As
a result of the expansion, employment at the facility is expected
to grow by some 1,100 jobs, a 25 percent increase from the current
employment level of 4,300 employees.
In the presence of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, U.S.
Representative Jack Kingston, Chatham County Commission Chairman
Pete Liakakis, Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson and other dignitaries,
employees at the Gulfstream facility learned that their work site
will expand nearly 70 percent in size by 2012.
"Gulfstream is the benchmark for business aviation throughout
the world, and we are proud that the company is based in Georgia,"
said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The expansion of Gulfstream's
manufacturing and service facilities will have a major impact on
the state and local economy by creating more than one thousand new
jobs."
First opened in 1967, Gulfstream's Savannah headquarters site
includes initial phase manufacturing for the Gulfstream G550, G500,
G450 and G350. The site also includes one of the company's five
final phase manufacturing facilities and the largest of
Gulfstream's 10 service centers.
"In the past four years
we've seen strong, steady growth in our industry," Gulfstream
President Bryan Moss (pictured right) said.
"From 2004 to 2005, we experienced a 12 percent increase in
aircraft production at our Savannah facility and we have every
reason to believe that growth will continue. This expansion is
necessary to meet the industry's projected increase in demand for
new business-jet aircraft and the maintenance that will follow.
"While Gulfstream may be an international company, our roots are
deeply embedded in Georgia and Savannah," Moss continued. "We
appreciate the assistance and cooperation we have received from the
Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Savannah Economic
Development Authority, Chatham County and the City of Savannah in
supporting our site expansion."
To ensure a growing pool of potential employees to fill the more
than 1,000 jobs created by this expansion plan, Gulfstream will
participate in new job training programs. In addition to the State
of Georgia's Quick Start program, Gulfstream will work with
Savannah Technical College on programs specially tailored for
Gulfstream's employment needs.
First, Savannah Technical College will open a new airframe and
powerplant certification school to train and license future
maintenance technicians. Second, the college will offer training
paths in Structural Assembly/Avionics/Airframe and Powerplant;
Structural Assembly/Wood Shop/Aircraft Interiors;
Materials/Warehouse Distribution; and
Administrative/Accounting/Customer Service. Gulfstream has
guaranteed a job interview to any student who successfully
completes one of these training paths.
The company's $300 million, 7-year, Long-Range Facilities Master
Plan includes a new 570,000 square foot service center- more than
twice the size of the existing Savannah Service Center. The new
service center will be constructed on 76.6 acres at the southwest
quadrant of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport that
will be leased from the Airport Commission. The southwest quadrant
site also will include an independent fuel farm and a 42,600 square
foot, state-of-the-art paint hangar.
Gulfstream's existing 209,000 square foot Savannah Service
Center at the company 5 main site will be converted into a
manufacturing facility, and a new 222,000 square foot manufacturing
building will be constructed directly adjacent to the current
service center. Additionally, Gulfstream will construct another new
42,600 square foot paint hangar at the main site.
Gulfstream's main building, which houses executive offices and
numerous support organizations, including its Marketing and Sales
departments, will be renovated to include a new Sales and Design
Center. Customers visiting the Sales and Design Center will have
access to the latest technological tools to assist in selecting
their aircraft's floorplan and furnishings. The plan also includes
a new 140,000 square foot engineering building at the northeast end
of the main site.
As part of the expansion, Gulfstream will upgrade site
infrastructure, including improvements to the railway delivery and
water drainage systems. Gulfstream, the Georgia Department of
Transportation, Chatham County and the City of Savannah will work
together to improve traffic access routes to Gulfstream's
facilities.
In choosing contractors and subcontractors for the expansion,
Gulfstream will continue its existing policy of providing
opportunities to small, women-owned, disadvantaged, veteran-owned
and service-disabled veteran businesses, and Historically
Underutilized Business zones.