GE Aviation adding 70 jobs after Delaware upgrades [video]

GE Aviation’s investment of $27 million at its Newark plant coupled with more than a million dollars in grant money from the state will help the company add 70 jobs.

Upgrades to GE Aviation’s 110,000 square-foot facility in the Diamond State Industrial Park in Newark are designed to allow the company to double the number of workers there by the end of 2016.  

“It’s a tremendous opportunity,” says plant leader Jeff Wessels.  “It’s very high-skilled labor that we’re looking for.”

What it means

The plant expansion will support increased production of ceramic matrix composites which are used to make advanced aircraft engine components. Production technologies developed and proved effective at Newark will then be transitioned to other GE manufacturing facilities for mass production.

“General Electric’s obviously an amazing company here in the aviation space, and one of their centers of excellence for composite materials is right here in Newark,” said Gov. Jack Markell.  “They’re making a significant investment and adding jobs.”

The company will get $304,833 from the Delaware Strategic Fund in a performance-based grant based on the creation of 70 jobs. The company is also getting $810,000 capital expenditure grant.