GE Aerospace just announced plans to invest more than $52.9 million in North Carolina to expand its advanced manufacturing and testing facility, strengthening one of North Carolina’s most valuable high-tech operations. The expansion will support new production capacity, testing capabilities, and additional workforce needs at a site that already builds some of the most critical components used in modern aviation.
The West Jefferson facility—located about 90 minutes north of Charlotte — produces essential rotating parts for CFM LEAP engines, including blisks, high-pressure turbines, and spools. These engines power a large portion of the global commercial fleet. GE Aerospace technology is now used on three of every four commercial aircraft and two of three U.S. military combat aircraft and helicopters, underscoring the strategic importance of the company’s North Carolina presence.
“More than 400 aerospace companies call North Carolina home,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley in a press release. “Our booming aviation and aerospace sector continues to thrive thanks to innovators like GE Aerospace. With our STEM talent and research and training centers, North Carolina will remain first in talent while attracting global manufacturers for our aviation supply chain.”
GE Aerospace employs roughly 2,000 workers across four North Carolina locations, with about 20 percent of its workforce made up of U.S. military veterans. The new expansion will create additional roles for apprentice machinists, inspectors, and engineers, generating an estimated annual payroll impact exceeding $2.2 million for the surrounding region.
To support the project, the company will receive a performance-based $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which helps local governments attract high-quality jobs and private-sector investment. Companies receive no upfront payment; instead, they must meet job creation and investment goals before any funds are awarded. All OneNC grants also require matching local government participation, making the incentive fully contingent on local approval.
