LAKE CHARLES – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that Aeroframe and Northrop Grumman have committed to expand their operations at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles with performance-based financial assistance from the Economic Development Award Program (EDAP).

The expansion is expected to add at least 50 new jobs, paying a minimum average of $50,000 per year, plus benefits, and retain more than 300 existing Aeroframe jobs at Chennault. Northrop Grumman will also construct a new 20,000-square-foot, air-conditioned assembly building for its Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center. The project will contribute approximately 80 new jobs paying an average of $51,000, plus benefits, and retain 217 existing jobs.

Governor Jindal said, “I am delighted that these two companies have committed to retain and create hundreds of good jobs in Louisiana. This is terrific news for Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, and we look forward to supporting more job creation opportunities at Chennault in the future.”

“Chennault ranks among LED’s top regional economic development priorities,” said Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Secretary Stephen Moret. “This unique facility has the potential to create hundreds, if not thousands, of additional jobs in the future. These investments represent a strong step toward accomplishing that larger goal.”

Chennault International Airport Authority will match the state’s investment in the expansion projects. For Aeroframe, the award enables installation of a new tail dock at the airport, which will increase Aeroframe’s capacity for aircraft repair and maintenance business and improve the company’s global competitiveness. Northrop Grumman intends to expand its assembly and specialty repair services capability at Chennault with the addition of the new building.

In addition to the EDAP assistance, the state also helped Chennault secure a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for a hangar annex.

“The state’s EDAP awards are part of a larger expansion plan to support Aeroframe’s and Northrop Grumman’s business at Chennault,” said Charles Harvey, the airport authority’s deputy director. “Our goal is to help these tenants use Chennault facilities to become more efficient and competitive, and drive further investment in jobs and economic impact in our region.”

Aeroframe’s largest Airbus Maintenance Facility at Chennault, whose major customer is FedEx, faces increased competition from Central America and Asia for aircraft repair and maintenance. Additionally, Aeroframe’s customer base has expanded to more than 20 major airbus owner/operators with many new customers from Europe and Asia, helping to hedge against labor cycle dips that other maintenance providers face. The state’s EDAP award and future investment will also help establish a Center of Excellence for aircraft repair and maintenance at Chennault.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a defense industry leader, employing 120,000 employees who provide innovative systems, products, solutions and services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other governmental agencies focused on aerospace, information, electronics and shipbuilding. (Jindal Press release)