Southern Business and Development’s Winter 2012 issue touts the South as the world’s capital of aerospace and aviation. The claim was made based on factors such as:
- Significant Boeing operations relocating to the South
- Foreign-based aviation and aerospace leaders locating in the South
- Ten well-established aviation and aerospace clusters in the South
Among the ten successful clusters listed in the American South were two North Carolina locations—Global TransPark in Kinston and the City of Monroe. North Carolina was one of only two states presented in the article—and the only one in the Southeast—with two aerospace and aviation clusters featured.
Global TransPark
Spirit AeroSystems at the GTP.
The North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP) is a 2,500 acre, multi-modal industrial park offering unparalleled access to air, rail, highways and the state’s two international ports. The GTP boasts a pro-business climate aimed at growing the aerospace, logistics, manufacturing, emergency services, defense contracting and supporting industries. The GTP is home to a 500,000-square-foot facility operated by Spirit AeroSystems as well as other tenants, including DB Schenker, Delta Private Jets, Henley Aviation, MJE Telestructure, Mountain Air Cargo and Spatial Integrated Systems. Other features of the Global TransPark include:
- 5,775 acres environmentally permitted for development
- Readily available buildings and sites
- Airport (ISO) with an 11,500 x 150 foot runway
- On-site 33,000 SF Composite Center
- Rail spur operational by 2012
- Proximity to I-95 and I-40 and two deep water ports
- On-site telecommunications infrastructure, fiber optic network and full utilities
City of Monroe
Monroe Economic Development has been successful in strategically attracting new companies to the area while assisting existing companies meet the needs of the aerospace and aviation industry. As a result of their focused efforts and complete community buy-in, the city is now home to the largest geographic concentration of aerospace companies in the state. Companies doing business in Monroe include Goodrich Corporation, ATI Allvac, Turbomeca Manufacturing, Cyril Bath Company and Caledonia Alloys. Other features of Monroe’s cluster include:
- Nearly 3,000 aerospace and aviation jobs
- $600 million in aerospace-related capital investment.
- South Piedmont Community College’s Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center
- Strong STEM curriculum incorporated into Union County Public School system
Read the full Southern Business and Development article.
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Related news:
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First Aviation Pleased to Call North Carolina Long-Term Home.
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Related links:
North Carolina's Distinct Aerospace Advantages
Aerospace Research Infrastructure
VIDEO TIMCO: North Carolina's Transportation Infrastructure
