Another boost for the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance
July 27, 2006
Kinston, NC—A Maryland company specializing in information technologies, engineering services and software solutions for the U.S. Navy and aviation industries will soon open a facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP), according to an announcement from the N.C. Governor’s Office Thursday morning.
Spatial Integrated Systems, Inc. (SIS), headquartered in Rockville, Md., will bring 37 jobs to the Global TransPark near Kinston, with annual salaries ranging from $35,000 to $100,000. The company plans to install about $700,000 worth of equipment in its new operation.
SIS is being supported in the move by the privately-funded Global TransPark Foundation, Lenoir County, the Neuse River Development Authority’s Defense Ventures Fund, and the Governor’s Office, which will back the enterprise with $100,000 from the North Carolina One Fund.
“These are great jobs for our people,” N.C. Treasurer Richard Moore said. Moore made the formal announcement on behalf of the Governor at a 9:30 am press conference. Moore continued, “These kinds of value-added, high-tech jobs will help Eastern North Carolina compete in the global economy. With our hard-working citizens, our strong education system and our great communities, North Carolina is a great place to do business.”
Felix Harvey, president of the Global TransPark Foundation, said, “Very few people understand the new high technology companies. SIS is one of these companies, and I have seen what they do first-hand. I’m impressed.”
Mark Pope, Executive Director of Lenoir County’s Economic Development Department, commented, “We’re pleased to welcome Spatial Integrated Systems to Lenoir County, the GTP and the region. With this company come high tech jobs that will create opportunities for Lenoir County’s citizens and open other avenues for future economic development.”
Greg Walker, Director of Sales and Marketing for SIS, said business with both the U.S. government and private industry has increased along the East Coast in recent months. “A location at the North Carolina TransPark will help support our company’s business growth in this region with the aerospace industry, U.S. Navy, and other commercial industries we’ve identified,” Walker said.
SIS is a privately-owned company and co-founder of the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance, a consortium of independent companies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and Department of Defense agencies, established with assistance from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support NC military bases and companies in the design, certification and manufacture of parts for aging aircraft. SIS also has offices in Bremerton, Wash., Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, W. Va.
In April 2005, the Golden LEAF Foundation, which administers half of the money received by the State of North Carolina from the master settlement with cigarette manufacturers, made $9.3 million in grants to the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance.
“The Golden LEAF board believes that helping companies that can support military operations in the state get up and running will develop a significant niche industry that will provide jobs and boost the economy in tobacco-dependent and economically distressed counties,” said Valeria Lee, president of the Golden LEAF Foundation.
The Aerospace Alliance Initiative, of which SIS is a crucial part, is making North Carolina attractive to aerospace companies looking to relocate; is creating new, high-tech jobs and investments by start-up North Carolina companies in areas that have lost thousands of jobs in manufacturing and the tobacco industry; and is providing a highly skilled workforce through training and education.
Dr. Ali Farsaie, SIS’s President and Chief Operating Officer and a graduate of North Carolina State University, said that during the last year, SIS looked closely at several areas suitable for the company’s expansion. “Kinston and Charleston, SC, were our leading candidates based on economic and company growth criteria. When we looked more closely at all the benefits for both our company and its employees, there was a stronger business case for coming to North Carolina,” he said.
The SIS decision to come to the GTP largely fits the Global TransPark’s business strategy of attracting companies that support military aviation maintenance. WorkHorse Aviation Manufacturing LLC, the TransPark’s most recent tenant, manufactures parts in support of the aviation industry and is expected to be a key SIS partner.
GTP Executive Director Darlene Waddell commented, “Having SIS at the TransPark is crucial as we work to bring more companies to the GTP as part of the Aerospace Alliance.”
Waddell added, “SIS will house an information technology center dedicated to supporting digital manufacturing, IT hosting, and engineering for the production of aircraft parts.”
The N.C. Global TransPark Authority has agreed to build a specialized 20,000 square foot building for SIS. SIS company personnel will be housed at the TransPark’s Education & Training Center until the building is completed.
Founded in 1997, SIS has built a reputation as a solution provider for the Department of Defense. SIS is a value-added reseller of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, hardware and services and is strategic partner of major vendors such as UGS, Z-Corp and Intermec. SIS builds turnkey system solutions for its clients.