Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce highlights area manufacturing at event
Mar 28, 2023 09:36AM ● By Randee Brown
Manufacturing Mornings is a quarterly event series hosted by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce to highlight the contributions of the manufacturing industry to the WNC economy.
The March 2023 event was held at GE Aviation off of Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. Clark Duncan, Senior Vice President of Economic Development welcomed attendees and shared that manufacturing represents a $24 million GDP in the Asheville region, noting the renaissance of American manufacturing brings economic vitality and opportunity to Buncombe County.
Special Guest NC Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders said that North Carolina is experiencing a wonderful moment in manufacturing and is also a champion specifically for aerospace.
Sanders said Duncan is an excellent champion for the region and for the state as one of so many who contribute to the success of manufacturing in the region, and GE Aviation has a significant impact on the industry.
“Manufacturing represents the core competency for North Carolina,” Sanders said. “The state has many successes because of companies and communities like these full of great talent and great people.”
According to Sanders, manufacturing was responsible for 29,000 jobs and $19 billion in capital investment, 66% of which was located in counties that were economically distressed. She said $105 million in rural economic development grants continue to be inclusive of all counties, creating jobs for families and serving residents across the state.
“The community and the state have benefited from $250 million in new investment from GE Aviation, creating 180 new jobs for the area,” Sanders said. “There are many innovative products made here, and this models what North Carolina is all about, modeling innovation and attracting others in the manufacturing industry to do business here.”
Sanders also spoke about her passion in working to improve health care, noting its importance in maintaining a healthy workforce. She also mentioned the importance of the availability of quality childcare for workers and said investments in infrastructure are still needed for diversifying the industry.
Loren Finnerty, Manufacturing Site Leader at GE Aviation, said that GE will mark a milestone later this year by becoming GE Aerospace. “We are continuing to build on the state’s aerospace legacy,” she said.
Finnerty said the next generation of engines will be more efficient. She also said GE will partner with A-B Tech on training programs for technicians, and will partner with the community by supporting STEM programs for Buncombe County Schools.
Chris Lane, Plant Manager at GE Aviation, said that a portion of the facility is dedicated to manufacturing what he called ‘rotating parts’ using classic and new technology. He said the facility is unlike what people think of in a traditional machining shop, that instead, it is very clean. He said though there are 185 people in the machinist portion of the facility, they still need more people.