GE AVIATION NEWS RELEASE
HOOKSETT, NH—May 7, 2015 – GE Aviation held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new expansion at its facility here today. GE Aviation began building a 55,000 square-foot expansion today to increase capacity driven by a record backlog in its commercial engines business. This will represent a nearly $50 million investment in Hooksett over the next decade.
GE has a significant presence in New Hampshire, employing more than 1,100 across the state. GE Aviation employs 740 at its Hooksett facility, where employees manufacture rotating parts for military and commercial jet engines. While the expansion for Hooksett will not result immediately in adding additional employees, it will contribute significantly to maintaining stable employment levels at the plant for many years to come.
“This investment will position Hooksett to play a pivotal role in the development of GE Aviation’s world-class engines, well known for their durability, reliability and efficiency,” stated Colleen Athans, GE Aviation vice president and general manager, Supply Chain.
New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan attended the groundbreaking ceremony and commented, “This expansion demonstrates GE Aviation’s long-term commitment to Hooksett and the State of New Hampshire, as well as how our state’s high quality of life, highly skilled workforce, low-tax environment and responsive state government make us as attractive a state for business as any in the country. We are grateful for GE Aviation’s commitment to the Granite State and the additional growth this expansion will help inspire across the state.”
According to Rep. Frank Guinta from New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, “This important strategic move will guarantee a long-term workload at the Hooksett facility and benefit the local area and our state for decades to come.”
“This expansion will help grow our local economy and enhance prosperity in the State of New Hampshire well into the future,” said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster from the 2nd District, who has made economic development one of her top priorities since taking office. “GE Aviation’s growth here in our state highlights our competitive workforce and business climate, and provides an exciting new opportunity for Granite State workers.”
Both New Hampshire Senators praised the expansion as well. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen remarked, “This expansion is great news for the highly skilled employees in Hooksett who are part of the proud tradition of New Hampshire manufacturing. GE’s New Hampshire-made engines are in-demand and this larger facility is a welcome development for the community and the state.”
Sen. Kelly Ayotte added, “GE Aviation’s $50 million expansion at its Hooksett facility is welcome news for our state. New Hampshire prides itself on manufacturing excellence, making it a perfect match for global aviation leaders like GE Aviation, and this expansion will further boost our advanced manufacturing sector. I’ll also continue my efforts to pass legislation I’m cosponsoring that would reauthorize the Export-Import bank, which supports manufacturers in New Hampshire at no cost to the taxpayer.”
“The state, county and the surrounding community have been invaluable partners, and I know those partnerships will bring even more success as we expand our facility at Hooksett,” affirmed Doug Folsom, GE Aviation’s plant leader at Hooksett.
Governor Hassan also stressed the importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, the U.S.’s official export credit agency that helps finance U.S. exports of manufactured goods and services at no cost to American taxpayers. The Hooksett facility and dozens of other New Hampshire businesses rely on Ex-Im Bank to finance their export business to the tune of $350 million just over the last six years. “I urge Congress to act on a stable, long-term reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank prior to its expiration June 30 to ensure that our businesses can compete fairly in the global market, increase their exports, and stimulate job creation and economic growth,” she said.
“The Export Import Bank supports key industries in the U.S., including the GE Aviation facility here in Hooksett,” said Rep. Kuster. “The reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank’s charter prior to its expiration on June 30 is essential to strengthening the U.S. economy and jobs, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to join together and immediately extend its charter.”
GE exports to every region of the world, making exports critical to GE business. Approximately 60 percent of GE Aviation’s $24 billion annual revenue comes from exports of their U.S.-made products and services.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation.
GE imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com
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For further information, contact:
Rick Kennedy +1.513.243.3372 rick.l.kennedy@ge.com Mobile: +1.513.607.0609
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