UTC Aerospace Opens in Charlotte

UTC Aerospace Systems, the new incarnation of the former Charlotte-based Goodrich Corp., which United Technologies Corp. acquired last year, and UTC’s Hamilton Sundstrand business, has opened its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.

 

Lured in part by state and local incentives, the company combined many of its business operations in Charlotte after its $18.4 billion acquisition of Goodrich. UTC moved about 75 of its employees from Connecticut to Charlotte.

 

As a result, company officials said payroll at its Charlotte division headquarters has increased from 160 to 250, with plans to increase to more than 300 in the coming years. The company also went from using three floors of its office building to all six. UTC Aerospace now occupies the entire 199,000ft² Coliseum Centre office building.

 

UTC Aerospace Systems makes components for aircraft and spacecraft throughout the world. The company’s components go into jets made by Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, helicopters for the U.S. Marines and the International Space Station, among others.

 

Economic development officials said UTC also considered locating the division headquarters in South Carolina, Florida and Virginia. Incentives helped UTC make its decision. 

 

The company received a $2.5 million grant from the state, $2.5 million in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County grants, and up to $16.5 million worth of additional state grants over the next 12 years, contingent on meeting job creation and investment targets.

 

The company pledged to employ a total of 325 people and invest $4 million in the UTC Aerospace Systems headquarters.