Gulfstream Aerospace, which experienced a 12-percent increase in aircraft production last year compared with 2004 and expects that growth to continue, revealed plans yesterday for a $300 million expansion of manufacturing and service facilities at its Savannah, Ga. headquarters. This project, to unfold over the next seven years, includes a new 570,000-sq-ft service center–more than twice the size of the existing center. The existing service center will be converted into a manufacturing facility, and a new 222,000-sq-ft manufacturing building will also be constructed. Additionally, Gulfstream will build two 42,600-sq-ft paint hangars. Gulfstream’s main administrative building will be renovated to include a new sales and design center. To ensure a growing pool of potential employees to fill the some 1,100 jobs expected to be created by this expansion, Gulfstream will participate in new job-training programs. In addition to the State of Georgia’s Quick Start program, the company will work with Savannah Technical College on programs specially tailored for its employment needs.
