AeroVironment (AV) to expand in West Valley City, Utah
Approximately 500 jobs
$42.3 million capex
Project Bold Horizon
Congratulations to West Valley City and Salt Lake County! AeroVironment (AV) – a leader in autonomous and intelligent multi-domain systems, – announced plans to bring approximately 500 new high-tech jobs to West Valley City and invest $42.3 million in Utah over the next 5 years.
EDCUtah became involved with AV’s expansion project through strong relationships with site selectors, helping bring the company to Utah. We assisted AV in navigating state incentive programs and coordinated a site visit, connecting the company with potential communities and key partners.
“We’re thrilled to welcome AV to West Valley City,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president of EDCUtah. “As a leading defense tech company, AV’s expansion will not only bring high-quality jobs to the region but will also further solidify West Valley City’s position as a premier hub for cutting-edge industries. We look forward to the long-term contributions they will make to our economy and community.”
The company’s final decision came as the result of collaboration among EDCUtah, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), CBRE (San Diego and Salt Lake Office), West Valley City, and Salt Lake County.
“The workforce and economic environment in West Valley City and the State of Utah was a great fit for this project,” said Sydney August, director of CBRE, who represented AV in the site selection process. “The ease of doing business here, combined with the strong community support, makes Utah an ideal location for the expansion.”
Serving defense, government, and commercial customers, AV delivers cutting-edge technology solutions at the intersection of robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence, software analytics, and connectivity. Guided by a mission to secure lives through transformative innovation, the company has established itself as a leader in uncrewed aircraft systems, loitering munition systems, uncrewed ground vehicles, and high-altitude pseudo-satellites. With a steadfast commitment to advancing safety, operational resilience, and sustainability, AV empowers its customers with advanced solutions to meet today’s most critical challenges.
“AV’s autonomous precision-strike systems have revolutionized modern warfare, providing warfighters with the ability to neutralize high-value threats with unprecedented accuracy while minimizing risk to friendly forces,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “This facility represents a critical step in our mission to expand manufacturing capacity, ensuring our forces have the technological superiority needed to deter and, if necessary, decisively defeat adversaries.”
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) – an EDCUtah founding investor – assisted the project by approving AeroVironment for Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (EDTIF).
“Utah is the ideal hub for advancing aerospace and defense technologies that are vital to national security and economic growth,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “Strategic investments like this create jobs, accelerate innovation, and reinforce Utah’s leadership in aerospace and defense. Supporting companies like AV strengthens our state’s economy while driving cutting-edge advancements in the industry.”
Jared Stewart, senior business development manager, led Project Bold Horizon for EDCUtah.
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EDCUtah Investors: If you were involved with this project and would like to have your organization mentioned, please email connect@edcutah.org and we’ll update this article.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact us.
Building Together: Utah’s Top Economic Development Stories in 2024
December 20, 2024
Throughout the year, EDCUtah brought you Utah’s top economic development highlights as they’ve happened. From energy to life sciences to aerospace, a lot of progress took place in the last 12 months. As we close out 2024, here’s our list of news worth celebrating.
Food Processing Projects Land and Expand in Utah
In 2024, three significant announcements in the food processing industry vertical took place. In January, Mars, Inc. announced a $237 million, 190-job expansion for Nature’s Bakery in Salt Lake City.
In March, Campbell Soup Company announced plans for a $160 million, 86-job expansion of its Pepperidge Farm facility in Richmond, Utah, to meet increased consumer demand for its Goldfish crackers.
In a December interview, Ya YA Foods president Yahya Abbas indicated that the company, which is partnering with Oatley in an Odgen, Utah facility, is ahead of projections for hiring. The site could reach 400 jobs vs. the original estimate of 302, announced in November 2023.
Geothermal Heats Up
A growing percentage of Utah’s energy comes from alternative sources, and that trend continues. In October, Fervo broke ground on power plant construction at Cape Station, an enhanced geothermal energy production project located northeast of Milford City, Utah. Cape Station is slated to produce 400 megawatts of power in the first two phases of the project, and Phase I will begin delivering around-the-clock power to the grid in 2026. Fervo anticipates that Cape Station, when complete, will employ up to 30 full-time permanent workers.
Life Sciences Sector Shows Healthy Growth
In July, Edwards Lifesciences – a global leader in medical innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring – announced an expansion of its Utah operations, representing $34.8 million in investment and 560 new jobs over the next 15 years. Edwards Lifesciences has had several expansions in Utah in recent years, and is a significant employer in the Salt Lake Valley.
Information Technology Sector Sees New Investments
In February, Lehi-based e-commerce company Pattern revealed plans to bring more than 500 high-paying jobs and invest nearly $26 million in Utah over the next 10 years.
In October, data-intelligence company Strider announced plans to expand in South Jordan, Utah, and bring 152 new jobs over the next five years.
Energy Costs a Plus for Utah
A March “Research Minute” report issued by EDCUtah’s Research Team focused on a long-running advantage for corporate expansion in Utah, namely energy costs. According to federal data, Utah has the fourth lowest electricity costs in the nation for all sectors at 9.03 cents per kilowatt hour—behind North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana. In states with higher costs, residents and businesses may pay double or even triple this amount. (California is at 24.73 cents per kilowatt hour.) In 2023, Utah also ranked fourth in the nation for cheapest natural gas costs in all sectors, behind Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Northrop Grumman Continues Growth in Northern Utah
Aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman announced in February further plans to expand its presence near Hill Air Force Base. “Project Unity II” will bring an additional 1,206 jobs, adding onto the 3,000 jobs announced in 2020 as part of “Project Unity.”
Fueling Growth and Innovation
The end of the year finished strong when, in December, sustainable aviation fuel company CleanJoule, and Hypercraft, manufacturer of electric powertrain systems, both announced expansion plans. CleanJoule will bring 100 new jobs and $150 million in investment to Salt Lake City, and Hypercraft will bring 183 new jobs and $39 million in investment to the Wasatch Front.
Consistent Process, Long-term Relationships
EDCUtah started and ended the year with more than 100 active projects, and as demonstrated by the recent ECONOMIX event held in Utah in December, our relationships in the national site selection community remain strong. We look forward to continued success in 2025, thanks to the support of our many public and private-sector investors.
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“Building Together” highlights examples of the collective impact of your investment and EDCUtah’s work in communities across the state.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact us.
CleanJoule Expands in Salt Lake City, Utah
December 12, 2024
100 jobs
$150 million capex
Project CJ Demo
Congratulations to Salt Lake City! CleanJoule, a full-performance sustainable aviation fuel company, announced plans to bring approximately 100 new technically-oriented jobs to Salt Lake City and invest $150 million in Utah over the next ten years.
“Salt Lake City is thrilled about the expansion of CleanJoule and the additional jobs they’ll bring to our residents. This homegrown success story is a perfect example of the magic that happens at the University of Utah Research Park, which then translates into sustainable manufacturing that’s good for the environment and the economy,” said Lorena Riffo Jenson, director of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development. “When a company chooses to expand here, it reinforces that Salt Lake City is a place where businesses prosper. And when businesses prosper, our families, friends, and community thrive.”
EDCUtah supported the project by coordinating requests for information on behalf of the company and facilitating connections between CleanJoule and local brokers, including Newmark.
“CleanJoule’s transformative work in sustainable aviation fuels exemplifies the innovation and collaboration that thrive in Utah’s business-friendly environment,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president of EDCUtah. “By driving advancements in fuel efficiency and sustainability, CleanJoule is shaping the future of aviation and strengthening Utah’s position as a hub for cutting-edge aerospace solutions.”
CleanJoule is a full-performance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) company that has developed a breakthrough pathway to produce superior and cost-effective SAF, driving the transformation towards a more sustainable aviation industry. CleanJoule’s manufacturing process delivers SAF with 10% higher energy density than typical Jet A/A-1 via a feedstock flexible biologic and chemical process. Backed by Indigo Partners, Cleanhill Partners, GenZero, Frontier Airlines, Wizz Airlines, and Volaris, CleanJoule is on a mission to eliminate the aerospace industry’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“Utah has an incredible talent pool and excellent leadership at the city and state levels. Utah’s business-friendly legislature has been instrumental in allowing us to attract outside capital and drive growth,” said Mukund Karanjikar, CEO and founder of CleanJoule. “We see immense potential in the Salt Lake City community and are excited to be part of an ecosystem that values forward-thinking approaches and cultivates an environment where businesses and individuals alike can thrive.”
Rex Buys, business development manager, led Project CJ Demo for EDCUtah. Jeff Rossi from Newmark, assisted the company in finding its location.
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EDCUtah Investors: If you were involved with this project and would like to have your organization mentioned, please email connect@edcutah.org and we’ll update this article.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact us.
Northrop Grumman Projected to Create Over 1,200 jobs in Northern Utah
February 12, 2024
1206 jobs
Project Unity II
Today, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity awarded Northrop Grumman a post-performance tax reduction for its expansion in Utah. The corporate incentive is part of the state’s Economic Development Tax Increment Financing program (EDTIF). As part of the agreement, Northrop Grumman projects to add over 1,200 new, high-paying jobs with a continued investment in Utah during the next 20 years.
This announcement was an incentives-focused continuation of EDCUtah’s previous Project Unity.
“We’re proud to welcome Northrop Grumman’s expansion in Utah. Our state has a strong tradition in aerospace and defense, and Northrop Grumman has had an integral role in its history,” said Gov. Cox. “Northrop Grumman is a major employer in Utah and has created many high-skilled jobs, particularly in engineering, technology, and manufacturing. Utah has a skilled and well-educated workforce in these fields, which is not only a talent pool Northrop Grumman can tap into, but they’ve also played a role in fostering the development of a skilled workforce by supporting STEM education and programs. This synergistic relationship is one we look forward to continuing.”
“Northrop Grumman, a longtime technology innovation leader in the state, has chosen to expand its footprint in Utah, and we’re thrilled,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “Utah’s strategic location in the western U.S. has logistical advantages for defense and aerospace and access to efficient transportation and resources. Northrop Grumman’s operations in Utah rely on local suppliers and subcontractors, and we look forward to supporting the company’s growth and seeing the positive ripple effect throughout the state’s supply chain.”
A proven technology powerhouse and systems integrator, Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Driven by a shared purpose to solve its customers’ toughest problems, the company performs with speed and discipline, scaling its facilities to deliver the capabilities its customers need to respond to growing threats. The company continuously attracts top talent and was named one of the world’s best employers by Forbes, among others.
Northrop Grumman has a rich history spanning over eight decades in Utah. The company is now the largest private sector aerospace and defense employer in Utah, with locations across the state.
“Northrop continues to invest in northern Utah.” said Chris Roybal, president of the Northern Utah Economic Alliance. “This significant expansion sends a message that they are confident in our workforce. We look forward to their continued success in our market.”
“For years, Northrop Grumman has been an anchor employer in Utah’s robust aerospace and defense industry,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president and CEO of EDCUtah. “It’s exciting to see its continued growth in several communities across the Wasatch Front.”
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For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact us.
Thales Expanding in Salt Lake City
September 14, 2023
54 jobs
50,000 sq ft.
$21 million capex
Project Kilauea
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) are pleased to announce that Thales plans to bring up to 54 new, high-paying jobs and invest about $21 million in Salt Lake City over the next 10 years, an endeavor that will include moving to a new, larger facility to expand the impact of its Moog acquisition.
Thales established its presence in Salt Lake City with the acquisition in 2021 of Moog’s Navigation Systems, which offers more comprehensive aerospace navigation aid solutions to the U.S. military and customers worldwide. Thales has over 80 years of experience and expertise in staffing and executing major ATM (Air Traffic Management) programs for customers, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NAV CANADA, and the Canada Department of National Defense (DND). In total, Thales systems account for more than 75% of all navigation aids globally, and 99% of U.S. commercial airports rely on Thales navigation aids to assist pilots in landing.
With 4,300 employees in 22 states and 600 new hires planned in 2023, Thales is an established player with a growing footprint in the United States. The Group is particularly recognized in the US defense sector, with a continuum between cybersecurity and defense, and has an increasing presence in digital identity and security.
“Thales is globally renowned in its sphere of specialty navigation systems and is an asset to Utah’s dynamic aerospace and defense community,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “The company has proved its expertise working with the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies, broadening our state’s connection worldwide. We’re grateful for Thales’ commitment to Utah’s economy and look forward to continuing our working relationship.”
“Today’s increasing global security concerns have created a strong demand for tactical navigation products enabling our government’s and our allies’ contingency air operations and evolving military mobility needs,” said Todd Donovan, vice president of Airspace Mobility Solutions – Americas. “We’re pleased to work with Utah to support this growth and continue the nearly 70-year legacy in Salt Lake City.”
“Because of our thriving talent pool, easy access to the beautiful outdoors, and booming commerce and culture scene, Salt Lake City continues to be the place where businesses want to land and expand. We are excited for the Thales expansion and for the good jobs it will bring,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Not only is this a win for the aerospace and defense industry here in Utah, it’s also a win for Salt Lake City residents who will benefit from the jobs and positive economic impact.”
“Thales’ reinvestment and expansion in Utah continues to add depth and expertise to our thriving aerospace and defense industry,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president and CEO of EDC Utah. “We welcome its commitment to growing in Salt Lake City and providing quality high-paying jobs at their new facility.”
Gerritt Vander Linden, business development manager, led Project Kilauea for EDCUtah.
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Investors: If you were involved in this project and would like to add your organization to this announcement, please email connect@edcutah.org.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact us.