International Aerospace Company’s New Plant Brings Jobs to Pierce County

TACOMA, Wash. - Jan. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- This week, Boeing announced a contract with GKN Aerospace for final assembly and painting of 737 MAX Advanced Technology (AT) Winglets. UK-based GKN has selected Sumner, WA as the location for a facility where it will assemble and paint the Winglets.

“This is a great win for Sumner, Pierce County and Washington State,” said Bruce Kendall, President and CEO of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County (EDB). “GKN was attracted by the region’s skilled workforce, our unmatched training and education systems for the industry and the excellent proximity to Boeing’s Renton plant, where the 737 MAX will be assembled.”

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, the Washington Aerospace Partnership, the EDB for Tacoma-Pierce County, and the City of Sumner, combined forces to inform GKN about the skilled workforce, great transportation and opportunities in Pierce County, and pointed out several possible locations. In the end, GKN selected a 57,000 sq. ft. location in Sumner where a previous tenant had also required a paint plant.

From arranging meetings and negotiations, to site selections, and understanding Sumner’s permitting processes, the EDB, Washington State Department of Commerce, and the City of Sumner were partners to GKN throughout the process.

The new Winglet production location will open in 2015 and employ approximately 75 people at full production, with more possible in the future as the 737 MAX ramps up. Employees will be drawn from Pierce County’s large pool of highly skilled aerospace and composite workers.

Many local colleges have placed an emphasis on educating workers for the aviation industry. Bates Technical College’s Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee Program, and Clover Park Technical College and the Pierce County Skills Center’s Programs with Workforce Central are producing expertly trained and immediately hirable workers for the region’s many aerospace companies.

Pierce County and State leaders hope that GKN Aerospace will be impressed with the region’s many attributes and willingness to work with companies who wish to expand their operations here.

“GKN is a large company, with many business lines from aerospace to automotive,” said Kendall. “Once they get to know Pierce County, we hope they keep us in mind for their future expansion needs. With world class businesses, unmatched natural beauty, affordable housing, great education and moderate climate, this region can’t be beat as a great place to do business.”

The 737 MAX is already a huge seller, with 2,600 planes currently on order and more orders coming every month. The Winglets, which will be assembled and painted in the Sumner facility, will help the new plane to be more efficient and reliable.

About the EDB:

The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County (EDB) has worked with job and wealth creating companies to grow the economy of the South Sound and Washington state since 1978. The EDB’s goal is to help businesses succeed. Since 2005, the EDB has helped generate more than 11,000 private sector jobs in Pierce County, more than $520 million in private capital investment, more than $490 million in private sector wages and salaries, and more than $25 million in industrial revenue bond financing. www.edbtacomapierce.org