Governor Ducey and AVIAGE SYSTEMS Announce First U.S. Expansion of Global Avionics Firm
PEORIA, AZ (July 16, 2015) — Governor Doug Ducey today announced the opening of the first U.S. operations of AVIAGE SYSTEMS, a global Tier-1 civil avionics solution provider headquartered in Shanghai, China, which has selected Arizona as a site for high-quality research, design and manufacturing.
AVIAGE SYSTEMS is a joint venture between General Electric Company (GE) and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The company’s strategic expansion in Peoria, Ariz., initially includes the creation of 40 high-wage jobs and nearly $5 million in capital investment with opportunities for future growth.
The opening of the facility at 9197 W. Thunderbird Road, Suite 100, complements Arizona’s robust avionics and aerospace sector, which contribute $38 billion annually to the Arizona economy and employs more than 52,000 workers.
“I am thrilled to welcome AVIAGE SYSTEMS to Arizona as it makes its first U.S. expansion that will be key to supporting the company’s global growth plans. It’s a partnership that makes sense for many reasons: Arizona ranks as one of the United States’ largest employment areas in aviation and aerospace systems manufacturing,” Governor Doug Ducey said. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow this key sector of our economy, and to helping AVIAGE SYSTEMS grow right alongside us.”
The opening of the Arizona location is the culmination of a months-long worldwide search. The site will be focused on a modular computing platform for civil avionics systems.
"AVIAGE SYSTEMS represents a historic international aviation joint venture between GE and AVIC. It was critical to find precisely the right location to expand its operations beyond China into North America," said President of Global Engineering & Technology for GE Aviation and AVIAGE SYSTEMS Board Member, Jim Daily. "Arizona became a clear candidate, with its drive to expand an already impressive base of hi-tech businesses, its close business connections with world-class educational institutions, its deep aviation heritage, its ease of access to our aviation customers throughout the Americas, its dedicated economic-development focus and its tremendous quality of life.”
Daily added: “After we had the opportunity to spend substantial time collaborating with Governor Ducey and Mayor Carlat, it was clear that Arizona and Peoria provided the ideal business opportunity for the expansion of AVIAGE SYSTEMS enterprise.”
"Out of a multitude of U.S. cities, AVIAGE SYSTEMS selected Peoria for its first offshore location and that obviously says a lot about what we have to offer business partners: an educated workforce, a supportive business community and a top-notch quality of life," said Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat. “This historic enterprise is a perfect fit with our city’s long-term economic development plans. This partnership will bring quality jobs to our community."
“AVIAGE SYSTEMS’s expansion into Arizona opens a key foreign market for our thriving aerospace sector,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Arizona has more than 1,200 companies that are active in the aviation supply chain. These companies are leaders in research, engineering, operations, maintenance and other services that support the aviation industry.”
Media Contacts
John Benoit, AVIAGE SYSTEMS, (623) 466-2197, [email protected]
Bo Larsen, City of Peoria, (623) 773-7934, [email protected]
Annie Dockendorff, Office of the Arizona Governor, (602) 542-7029, [email protected]
Susan Marie, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1231, [email protected]
About AVIAGE SYSTEMS
AVIAGE SYSTEMS is a $1.3 billion, 50/50 joint venture between General Electric Company (GE) and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), established in March 2012. Building on a historic partnership between two world-leading aerospace companies, AVIAGE SYSTEMS’ vision is to continue to grow as a global tier 1 civil avionics company that elevates the future of flight by unleashing our world-class talent, cutting-edge innovation and powerful partnerships.
About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.
About Peoria
On the leading edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Peoria is rated as one of the nation’s top communities according to the National Citizens Survey. Located just 25 minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport, Peoria is a dynamic community of more than 164,000 people today. Home to nearly 50 miles of trails, award-winning schools and parks, well-planned residential neighborhoods, Major League Baseball Spring Training home for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, and the area’s second largest lake, this progressive yet grounded and well-balanced community is positioned to be a decisive component of Arizona’s economic future.