Pratt & Whitney plans $285M expansion, 325 jobs in Asheville

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corp, plans a $285 million expansion of its turbine airfoil manufacturing plant in Asheville, North Carolina, creating 325 new jobs by 2029. This expansion, announced by Governor Josh Stein, is a significant boost to the region's economy, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024. The state's economic support includes a Job Development Investment Grant of up to $4.2 million. The Asheville facility, opened in 2020, produces components for jet engines used in both commercial and military aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and F-35 Lightning II. The expansion is expected to increase the facility's output to meet rising demand and will offer jobs with an average salary of $62,413. The initiative underscores the area's skilled workforce and economic resilience post-disaster.