Florida Welcomes Company Endorsed by Ron DeSantis, Bringing Million-Dollar Investment and 300 New Employment Opportunities
Florida secures a significant investment from Michigan-based company Williams International, as the conglomerate announces plans to establish a sprawling gas aircraft engine factory in Okaloosa County. The ambitious project, endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis, will involve an investment of $1 billion and create over 330 jobs in the region.
The factory will occupy a 90,000 square meter plant at the Shoal River Industrial Park, where high-volume aircraft gas turbine engines will be produced. According to the Florida government, the first construction, spanning approximately 23,000 square meters, is set to break ground by the end of 2025, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026. Subsequent facilities will be constructed in 2028, followed by completion of a third one between 2035 and 2036, eventually culminating in a total facility size of around one million square feet by 2036.
Governor Ron DeSantis applauded the development, highlighting it as a testament to the success of Florida's Northwest Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The $320 million in incentives allocated for expanding manufacturing in Okaloosa County, said DeSantis, played a crucial role in facilitating this new project.
A collaborative agreement between various state, regional, and local partners, including CareerSource Florida, Okaloosa County, One Okaloosa EDC, Space Florida, and Triumph Gulf Coast, also contributed to the realization of this factory.
Gregg Williams, president and CEO of Williams International, expressed enthusiasm for the company's next phase of growth in the northwest. He appreciated the support from Triumph Gulf Coast and all stakeholders in Florida. The factory, Williams asserted, will create numerous high-quality, high-tech jobs and produce the world's best gas turbine engines.
Based in Pontiac, Michigan, Williams International is a globally recognized leader in the design, manufacturing, and technical support of aircraft engines. The arrival of this factory marks a significant expansion of Florida's aerospace industry, with local administration highlighting the region's potential as a thriving center for aerospace activity.
Rob Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, noted the innovation and investment opportunities being generated in every corner of the state, solidifying Florida as a global and interplanetary hub of aerospace commerce. Florida's Secretary of Commerce, J. Alex Kelly, echoed the sentiments, celebrating the renewed emphasis on advanced manufacturing under Governor DeSantis' leadership as a means to strengthen the state's economy and create opportunities for jobseekers and job creators alike.
With this investment, Williams International is poised to drive long-term economic growth and opportunities for the company in Florida.
The news of Williams International's investment in Florida's aerospace industry, marked by the establishment of a gas aircraft engine factory, showcases the potential of the region as a thriving hub for technology and advanced manufacturing. The factory, expected to produce high-volume aircraft gas turbine engines, will create over 330 high-quality, high-tech jobs and contribute to Florida's growing aerospace commerce.
