Asheville Reporter

Pratt & Whitney, a part of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, said it plans to spend approximately $650 million to expand and create 800 jobs through 2027 in Asheville.

Gov. Roy Cooper welcomed the news of the company's planned investment and expansion.

"We are positioning North Carolina to come out of this pandemic with these and other good-paying jobs which signal a bright future in aviation even with the current challenges the industry faces," Cooper said in an Oct. 22 release about the expansion. "Manufacturers know they can count on our strong workforce, our innovation and our leadership in uncertain times."

The release said that the new jobs added will pay approximately $68,000 per year, which is significantly higher than Buncombe County's rate of $43,134.

"This investment will enable Pratt & Whitney to continue to modernize and transform its operations with cutting-edge technologies," Chris Calio, president, Pratt & Whitney, said in the release. "Turbine airfoils are a critical component across our engine portfolio and demand will increase significantly as the market recovers over the next several years. We need to invest today to ensure that we have the infrastructure, production capabilities and workforce in place to meet future market demand and provide the best products to our customers worldwide."