Gulfstream to Add 1,100 Jobs in Savannah Expansion

Gulfstream to Add 1,100 Jobs in Savannah Expansion

Company to Invest $300 Million Over Seven Years to Expand Manufacturing, Service Facilities

SAVANNAH , Ga. – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation will expand its manufacturing and service facilities at its Savannah headquarters.  The expansion will create 1,100 new jobs, a 25 percent increase from the current employment level of 4,300 employees.  The company will invest $300 million in the seven-year expansion.

“Gulfstream is the benchmark for business aviation throughout the world, and we are proud that the company is based in Georgia ,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “The expansion of Gulfstream's manufacturing and service facilities will have a major impact on the state and local economy by creating more than one thousand new jobs.”  

Governor Perdue made the announcement today in a ceremony at Gulfstream's Savannah facility attended by top company officials and local dignitaries. 

“In the past four years we've seen unprecedented growth in our industry,” said Gulfstream President Bryan Moss.  “Just from 2004 to 2005, we experienced a 12 percent increase in aircraft production at our Savannah facility and we have every reason to believe that growth will continue.  This expansion is necessary to meet the industry's projected increase in demand for new business-jet aircraft and the maintenance that goes along with that.

“While Gulfstream may be an international company, our roots are deeply imbedded in Georgia and Savannah ,” said Moss.  “We appreciate the assistance and cooperation we have received from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Savannah Economic Development Authority, Chatham County and the City of Savannah in supporting our site expansion.”

The new 570,000-square-foot Gulfstream Savannah Service Center , more than twice the size of the existing facility, will be constructed on 76.6 acres at the southwest quadrant of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.  The site will also include an independent fuel farm and a 42,600-square-foot state-of-the-art paint hangar.

Gulfstream's existing service center will be converted into a manufacturing facility, and a new 222,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will be constructed adjacent to it.  In addition, the company will build another new 42,600-square-foot paint hangar dedicated to manufacturing.  Gulfstream's main building will be renovated to include a new sales and design center.

As part of the expansion, Gulfstream will upgrade site infrastructure, including improvements to the railway delivery and water drainage systems.  The company, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Chatham County will work together to improve traffic access routes to Gulfstream's facilities.

“We have had the great privilege of working with Gulfstream often over the years, though much more intensely for the past several months.  They are professionals of the highest caliber.  The company's success is no accident,” said SEDA President Rick Winger.  “While new company announcements are always exciting, nothing is more satisfying than the growth of established businesses.”

First opened in 1967, Gulfstream's Savannah headquarters site includes initial phase manufacturing for the Gulfstream G550, G500, G450 and G350.  The site also includes one of the company's five final phase manufacturing facilities and the largest of its 10 service centers. 

To ensure a growing pool of potential employees to fill the more than 1,000 jobs created by this expansion plan, Gulfstream will participate in new job training programs.  In addition to the state of Georgia 's Quick Start program, Gulfstream will work with Savannah Technical College on programs specially tailored for Gulfstream's employment needs, and has guaranteed an interview to any Savannah Tech student who successfully completes one of several specific training paths.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft.  Gulfstream has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958.  To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350™; the large-cabin, long-range G450™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550™.  Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®.  The company employs more than 7,900 people at seven major locations.  For more information, please visit www.gulfstream.com .

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