| Rockwell Collins Expansion Announced by Governor Perry
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced a $1.67 million Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) award to Rockwell Collins Inc. to expand their operations in Texas. The company will lease 90,000 square feet of space to accommodate growth at its facility in Richardson, create 334 new, high-paying jobs and invest more than $6.7 million in machinery and equipment for the new building.
“Rockwell Collins’ expansion and commitment to create more than 330 new jobs is a strong indicator of our state’s vibrant economy and business-friendly climate,” Gov. Perry said. “Thanks to strategic investment in businesses throughout our state, Texas continues to advance as a leader in high-tech design and manufacturing, which will play a key role in our state’s future.”
Rockwell Collins is a global leader in the design, production and support of communication and aviation electronics for commercial and military aircraft customers worldwide. The company supplies defense communication and defense electronic solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, foreign militaries and manufacturers of military aircraft and helicopters. The Richardson operation will focus primarily on production of aviation electronics and communication systems for U.S. militaries.
“This expansion, made possible through the Texas Enterprise Fund, signifies our continued success and reaffirms our commitment to the Richardson area,” said Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clay Jones. “We have a long history in Richardson and we look forward to a prosperous future.”
“The City of Richardson takes great pride in having partnered with the State of Texas and Rockwell Collins to bring high-quality jobs to our community,” said Steve Mitchell, Mayor of Richardson. “We believe our substantial investment in the future of a company with historic, deep roots in Richardson will support continued economic growth and produce long-term, beneficial results for our residents and our business community.”
The company has longstanding ties to the Richardson community, where it currently owns a 276,000 square-foot facility and employs 900 Texans. The 90,000 square-foot expansion is located adjacent to the existing facility.
Rockwell Collins’ expansion demonstrates the strength of the state’s Aerospace and Defense cluster in Texas. It is one of the six industry clusters targeted by Governor Perry for growth.
“We are very pleased that Rockwell Collins is expanding its presence in Richardson,” said Bill Sproull, president of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. “A long-time leader in the aviation and communications fields, Rockwell Collins has played a key role in establishing the Telecom Corridor® as a global hub for technological innovation. It makes sense that Rockwell Collins continues to grow here, drawing on Richardson's high-tech infrastructure and abundance of remarkable talent.” |