Governor Rick Scott announced that Pratt & Whitney, a leading global manufacturer of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, will be expanding its site in Palm Beach County and creating 215 new jobs. In addition to these new jobs, since 2012, Pratt & Whitney has created 300 jobs for Florida families and employs a total of more than 1,300 Floridians.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to announce 215 new jobs for families in Palm Beach County. As Governor, one of the best parts of my job is meeting families across our state and over the past seven years, I’ve heard firsthand from them just how important our focus on job growth is to their success. Today’s exciting announcement shows why Florida is leading the nation in job growth and why we will never stop fighting to make sure that hard-working companies, like Pratt & Whitney, can grow and create jobs.”
David Carter, senior vice president of engineering for Pratt & Whitney, said, “Pratt & Whitney is committed to expanding operations at our West Palm Beach facility and creating highly skilled and good-paying jobs. We are thankful for the support we receive from the State of Florida and Palm Beach County as we add 215 positions to our employee base of 1,300 and $100 million in capital investment in addition to over $88 million we’ve invested in manufacturing and technology improvements to this site since 2012.”
Peter Antonacci, CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., said, “Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in aviation technology and manufacturing. This expansion of the Pratt & Whitney footprint is a big win for Palm Beach County families.”
Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Pratt & Whitney’s expansion is another sign that employers are benefiting from Florida’s pro-business policies and finding the talent they need to grow in the Sunshine State. The new jobs in manufacturing and engineering will provide opportunities for hardworking families in the area.”
Palm Beach County Commissioner Steve Abrams said, “These new jobs are incredibly important for families in our community. Not only is Pratt & Whitney creating high-paying jobs, but it’s also making investments in our community to benefit our residents for years to come.”
Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the business development board of Palm Beach County, said, “With deep roots in our county for more than 60 years, Pratt and Whitney has served as the foundation of our robust Aviation/Aerospace/Engineering (AAE) cluster and significant contributor to our community. Palm Beach County is home to more than 1,300 AAE companies that employ approximately 17,000 residents. This expansion further signifies the competitiveness of our county and state in growing high quality, innovation based companies.”
The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Palm Beach County’s Business Development Board.