Boeing to expand operations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said June 19 that the state's competitive business environment and targeted investments will help the Boeing Company create 350 new manufacturing jobs over the next three years in Delaware County.

Visiting the company's manufacturing plant in Ridley Township, Pa., Governor Rendell said the company's planned $105 million expansion project will also retain its 4,700 existing employees.

"Having an industry giant like Boeing expand here sends a very strong message to other companies - Pennsylvania can help them compete in the global market," said Rendell. "Our business-friendly environment, coupled with our innovative investment programs help give companies like Boeing the advantage it needs to grow and succeed among intense competition.

"The hundreds of new jobs created - and the retention of thousands more - by Boeing is fantastic news for all of Pennsylvania's working men and women. It shows that our aggressive investment approach is working. In fact we have 48,500 more jobs today than we had a year ago and nearly 122,000 more than when I took office."

Boeing is modernizing its manufacturing plant and investing in new equipment to accommodate demand for the V-22 Osprey after the Pentagon's September 2005 recommendation that the company begin full production of the aircraft, a nearly $50 billion program.

The Ridley Township facility produces fuselages for the Osprey, a fixed-wing plane that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a conventional airplane. The Pentagon is calling for Boeing to increase production from its present level of 11 V-22 Osprey aircraft to 36 by fiscal year 2009.

The company, which is also increasing production of its Chinook helicopter, will train new employees and many existing workers to meet this combined demand.

"We are extremely proud to be part of this community, and the training these funds will provide for our employees will help us maintain production of the quality products our armed forces expect and need to continue the war on terrorism," said Dan Meyer, Boeing operations site manager at Ridley Park.

"Just last week we rolled out the first CH-47F Chinook, which will provide our soldiers the most up-to-date capability of any helicopter in the world. Also, next summer the Marine Corps will deploy the V-22 for the first time to a combat environment. These are just two examples of the impact of what we do here in Ridley Park has on our war fighters and why continuous upgrades and training are critical to provide our troops with the very best equipment possible," said Meyer.

The Delaware County Commerce Center worked with the state to tailor an investment package of more than $2 million that will help the company create jobs and train employees to meet changing demands.

The Governor's Action Team worked with the company to make the project a reality. Composed of economic-development professionals who report directly to Governor Rendell, the team serves as a single point of contact for businesses looking to locate or expand in the commonwealth.

Since 2003, GAT has successfully completed 648 projects that will create more than 65,000 new jobs and keep 178,000 existing jobs right here in Pennsylvania. The state has provided $1.15 billion in assistance for companies that will leverage more than $5 billion in private sector investments.

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined, with capabilities in rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. Boeing employs more than 153,000 in approximately 67 countries. The company has customers in 145 countries and is the No. 1 U.S. exporter in terms of sales.