One Million Square Foot Facility to be Built in Okaloosa County

Aerospace manufacturer Williams International recently decided on a location for its new billion-dollar, million-square-foot turbine engine manufacturing facility. The investment is expected to create more than 330 jobs in Northwest Florida.

“This billion-dollar investment is a major win for the Free State of Florida and for Floridians,” expressed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “Williams International’s investment in the Florida Panhandle will create more than 330 jobs, and is a success story of the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund in Northwest Florida.”

Williams International, a Michigan-based turbine engine maker, began a multi-state search in 2023 in preparation for the construction of a new, high-volume manufacturing facility. The hunt led it to the $3.2 million grant Gov. DeSantis awarded Okaloosa County in 2022 under the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund.

The manufacturer and State of Florida authorities officially named the Shoal River Industrial Park in Okaloosa County, Florida, as the site for the new high-volume aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility on May 29. Around 100,000 square feet of facilities will be constructed in total.

Construction will move forward in three phases, with the first slated to begin later this year. This 250,000-square-foot facility should be completed by late 2026. The second phase will kick off in 2028, followed by the final 500,000 square feet in 2035-2036.

“We are very excited about starting our next phase of growth in Northwest Florida”, stated Gregg Williams, CEO of Williams International. “We are grateful to the Triumph board and for the strong, unified support from all of our Florida stakeholders that will enable us to create many high-quality, high-technology jobs producing the world’s best gas turbine engines.”

FMI: www.williams-int.com