APPLETON – Gov. Tony Evers today joined local and company officials as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) unveiled its new Appleton Service Center, a $39.5 million project that is bringing 171 new jobs to the community.
“This is good news for Appleton, for Outagamie County, and for Wisconsin,” Gov. Evers said. “We are pleased that Gulfstream has chosen to build its future in Wisconsin and to create opportunities for our highly educated, talented workforce.”
The nearly 180,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul facility is located just northeast of the Appleton International Airport’s main terminal. The new building includes a hangar, offices, back shops and support space. The expansion will bring the number of employees at Gulfstream Appleton to more than 1,000.
“This is the most significant expansion we’ve had in Appleton in the nearly 20 years we’ve been here,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “The demand for our outstanding service business is growing, so this added maintenance capacity and additional jobs are great news for our customers and the community. These added resources will further enhance the world-class service and support this site is known for in the industry.”
“Gulfstream is one of many companies that put the Fox Valley on the map on a global scale,” said Rep. Mike Rohrkaste. “Their decision to expand at Appleton International Airport, bringing their employee count here to over one thousand people, is great news.”
Senate President Roger Roth added, “The Gulfstream expansion is great news for the Fox Valley and we will definitely feel the positive ripple effect from this. Gulfstream values local connections creating community and educational partnerships – like the Student Leadership Program which is in collaboration with the Appleton Area School District and Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. When a company deeply roots itself into the community, you know they are dedicated to supporting our hard-working citizens and their families.”
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the project by authorizing up to $1,100,000 in state income tax credits over three years. The actual amount of tax credits Gulfstream will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investment during that period. The tax credits are split between $750,000 for job creation and $350,000 for capital investment.
“In addition to the jobs created by this project, this expansion will allow Gulfstream to take advantage of a growing market and increased demand for its services,” said Mark R. Hogan, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state’s leading economic development organization. “This significant investment is a testament to Wisconsin’s strong business climate and dedicated workforce, and WEDC is proud to provide support to make this a viable project for the company.”
In addition to the 171 jobs expected to be created by Gulfstream, an economic modeling study estimates the project could indirectly generate 492 additional jobs in the region. Those 663 jobs new jobs are expected to generate over $1.4 million in state income tax revenue through the end of the project.
Outagamie County also received $1 million from the Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) program of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for construction of construct a roundabout that provides better and safer access to the new site.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,800 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. Gulfstream Appleton offers a wide variety of services, including major inspections, structural modifications and major avionics installations and safety upgrades.