Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that LSA America, Inc., a manufacturer of light sport aircraft, will locate with a new production facility in Halifax County. The company plans to create 34 jobs and invest $400,000 during the next three years. The project was made possible in part by a $136,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“As we work every day to put more North Carolinians back to work, we have focused on creating 21st century jobs, and that includes creating an aerospace cluster in our state with companies such as LSA America,” Gov. Perdue said. “Our efforts to expand this fast-growing industry will continue to create jobs in Halifax County and around the state.”
LSA America is the manufacturer of the Allegro® Light Sport Aircraft. The light sport aircraft’s performance, quality, low maintenance costs and low operating costs continue to bring new sales and increase market share despite the recession. LSA will target aviation flight schools and General Aviation pilots for sales in the U.S. and around the world. The company will lease the Littleton Industrial Building on NC Highway 158 for 18 months, while a new production hangar is constructed at the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $28,118 plus benefits. The Halifax County average annual wage is $27,404.
“LSA America is very pleased to establish production of its Allegro® Light Sport Aircraft in North Carolina with its rich aviation history. Halifax County offers growth potential and a very capable employee base,” said Doug Hempstead, President of LSA America. “The incentives and dedicated people we worked with made North Carolina and Halifax County an easy choice. We look forward to growing our production in the coming days.”
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“Like so many companies that have taken a look at North Carolina, LSA discovered exactly what they needed to get this project off the ground: a skilled, educated workforce and a business climate that is second to none,” said Rep. Angela Bryant, of Rocky Mount.
“Having quality jobs are our number one priority. Our investment in education and infrastructure has built a topflight workforce in Halifax County,” said Senator Ed Jones, of Enfield. “Without the Golden Leaf Foundation, One North Carolina Fund and other economic development partners, we could not have been instrumental in attracting companies like LSA America, Inc.”
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), the N.C. Rural Center, the Halifax County Economic Development Commission, Halifax County Business Horizons, Halifax County, the Town of Littleton, the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport Authority and North Carolina's Northeast Commission.
For more information about LSA America, visit www.allegrolsa.com.