FAYETTEVILLE, NC – The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is proud to announce that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for its aerospace-grade titanium mill. The company will create over 300 jobs, with an average salary of $123,476, while investing more than $867 million in buildings and equipment.
Project Aero addresses a substantial manufacturing supply chain need of the United States’ aerospace industry – namely, the availability of aerospace-grade titanium. Aerospace Manufacturers value titanium for its unique properties. Titanium can be combined with many other metals, such as aluminum, vanadium, and iron. Titanium alloys are valued by aircraft manufacturers, as well as across many industries due to their low density, high strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. The company’s project in Fayetteville will establish approximately a 500,000-square-foot facility and campus that is purpose-built to melt, roll, and finish titanium.
“With 20 plus years at U.S. Steel and 13 years at Nucor Corporation, developing five greenfield steel mill projects, I am proud to lead the construction of such a mission-critical project.” LeRoy Prichard, President of Capital Projects for Project Aero.
In May, the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County approved incentive packages designed to support the project, provided the company achieves required performance benchmarks.
“We are thrilled that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for their new state-of-the-art facility, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” said County Chairman Glenn Adams. “When we, as the Board, consider which projects to recruit into our community, we are always mindful of the impact on our residents and the opportunities they will provide. We want everyone to know that Cumberland County is open for business and hope this will spur continued economic growth.”
“This project highlights our potential in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, making Fayetteville poised for tremendous growth and increased prosperity,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “This historic investment will create several hundred high-paying jobs, with average salaries nearly double the national average and significantly higher than the average salary in North Carolina. We are excited to welcome this transformational project to Fayetteville and look forward to the future opportunities it will bring."
On behalf of the company, Project Aero Chairman Teresa McBride expressed appreciation for all that is being done to support the project.
“This would not have been possible without the support of Governor Roy Cooper, the State of North Carolina, Cumberland County, The City of Fayetteville, Fayetteville PWC, Dr. Franklin Clark, and Piedmont Natural Gas. We are grateful for the tireless effort FCEDC President & CEO Robert Van Geons and Executive Vice President Rob Patton have given to advance this project. We would also like to specifically thank Mayor Mitch Colvin, Chairman Glenn Adams, and PWC CEO Tim Bryant for their leadership and support,” said McBride.
In a release today announcing the project, Governor Roy Cooper said “From the moment the Wright brothers pioneered powered flight at Kitty Hawk, the aerospace industry has been a cornerstone of modern life, driving technological advancements and fostering connectivity. North Carolina offers aerospace manufacturers like this one in Cumberland County a talented workforce, worker training systems, and world-class transportation networks that will help them grow and succeed in our state.”
ABOUT FCEDC: The Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation is a public-private partnership designed to enhance job growth and prosperity in the region by attracting new industry and growing and retaining existing industry. The FCEDC works daily to help strengthen our economy and diversify our community’s tax base. Learn more at www.fcedc.com.
ABOUT CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Cumberland County is the fifth largest county in North Carolina with a population estimate of 342,082. The County functions under a Board of Commissioners-County Manager form of government. There are nine municipalities within Cumberland County to include the City of Fayetteville. Cumberland County serves citizens with PRIDE (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity with Accountability, Diversity and Excellent Customer Service). To learn more about Cumberland County visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov.
ABOUT CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE: The City of Fayetteville is a dynamic, culturally-rich community committed to high performance, transparency and innovation. Directly adjacent to Fort Liberty, Fayetteville is home to more than 208,000 residents. The mission of the City is to provide sustainable, high-quality public services for our communities to thrive and businesses to grow. With creative energy, vibrant history and compassionate people, Fayetteville always finds a way. That's why we are America’s Can Do City. To learn more about the City of Fayetteville and City departments or services, please visit fayettevillenc.gov or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.