By Trish Svoboda

Today, February 2nd, Governor Laura Kelly announced that Honeywell plans to invest $84 million in expanding its aerospace manufacturing facility in Olathe, thereby generating 156 new job opportunities. The initiative is expected to yield approximately $47 million in total gross domestic product (GDP) and contribute $18.3 million in state and local taxes within its initial six years.

The expansion will establish one of Honeywell’s most technologically advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities. The facility, spanning 560,000 sq. ft. presently produces components for Honeywell’s avionics, safety and flight control systems, intricate radio frequency systems for traffic collision avoidance, radar altimeters, and weather radar.

“Expanding this facility will enable the development of a strong and resilient domestic supply chain for next-generation avionics and printed circuit board assemblies that our commercial and military customers can rely on,” Honeywell Aerospace Technologies President and CEO Jim Currier said. “At Honeywell, we are in constant need of highly skilled employees, particularly in engineering and advanced manufacturing, and our decision to expand one of our U.S.-based facilities is a testament to the confidence we have in the U.S. economy and its talented workforce.”

The expanded facility’s annual operations will create continuous economic advantages, including the sustenance of over 200 jobs in various sectors of the Kansas economy. In addition, the Olathe manufacturing facility will foster economic growth throughout the construction phase and subsequent operations of the expanded facility. The construction and installation of new equipment will create temporary, one-time economic benefits, supporting the creation of 268 one-year jobs in Kansas and generating nearly $25 million in GDP.