Governor Rick Scott was the keynote speaker at the announcement ceremony for AVEO Engineering. AVEO Engineering, a leader in international aerospace engineering, is opening a design and manufacturing operation in Flagler County with plans to hire 300 employees.
The event was attended by elected officials and business representatives and AVEO President Christian Nielsen.
Governor Scott said, “AVEO Engineering’s decision to expand in Flagler County and create 300 jobs is great news for Florida families. AVEO Engineering considered other locations like Texas and Malaysia, but they liked what Florida had to offer. Since taking office, our focus has been on job creation and turning Florida’s economy around... And with the creation of more than 330,000 private-sector jobs since December 2010 and our unemployment below the national average at 7.1 percent, we know that it’s working in Florida. Today is great news for Flagler County and the state of Florida and we look forward to watching Aveo Engineering grow in the Sunshine State.”
AVEO is a world-leading producer of high-technology electronics solutions and innovative LED lighting products for the aviation, marine, vehicle, mining, industrial, and obstruction warning/safety markets worldwide. With extensive facilities in the USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United Kingdom, India and Malaysia and engineering skills and experience, it has also been tapped by numerous leading companies worldwide to provide custom-engineered solutions and innovations.
The company has determined that Flagler County is an ideal location for the new plant, citing the county’s receptive business climate, an airport location with runway access, skill and knowledgeable workforce, incentives and employee quality of life as a recruitment tool.
“We’ve been working closely with the County and have conducted our workforce analysis over the past few months. We’ve learned that Flagler County and the region provide an amazing pool of talent from which to draw,” AVEO President Nielsen said. The firm plans to hire approximately 300 people over the next 3 years, starting with 50 employees in year one. The average wage for employees will be $43,000.
The company is associated with several well-known aircraft manufacturers, including Sikorsky, Gulfstream, General Atomics, Hughes MD Helicopters, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
“The estimated $7 million that AVEO Engineering will invest through the construction of a new facility at the Flagler County Airport demonstrates their commitment to the community and their confidence in a long term partnership with the County,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said.
The company will temporarily operate from a leased facility in Palm Coast while the new building is being designed and constructed.
“Recruiting AVEO Engineering shows that Flagler County is competitive in today’s high-tech manufacturing market,” Flagler County Commissioner Barbara Revels said. Commissioner Revels is the chair of the County’s Economic Development Advisory Council. “It was a team effort and a game changing success for Flagler County.