© Quatro is adding about 45,000 square feet. Outside, a new front entrance. Inside, more space to build and ship.ORANGE CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
An Iowa manufacturer of aerospace products is about to get a lot bigger. Quatro Composites in Orange City broke ground on an expansion at their headquarters, Monday. The addition will more than double the size of the facility. And yes, it'll bring a bunch of new jobs too.
Here are some specifics; Quatro is adding about 45,000 square feet. Outside, a new front entrance. Inside, more space to build and ship, plus room for the 99 new positions the company plans to create over the next three years.
"This is our sixth expansion in eight years, if you can believe that, in eight years. This is the largest expansion that we have ever undertaken," said Quatro President and COO Steve Roesner.
Roesner says Quatro is adding on to keep up with demand for their carbon composite pieces for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
"To fulfill those obligations of growing aerospace manufacturing we need more capacity, both in plant equipment and human resources," said Roesner.
In all, the project will cost about $11.8 million. To offset that, Quatro got help from the state, $1.5 million in forgivable and no interest loans. State officials say the company deserved it.
"They have a proven track record for one. They have got innovative technology. They're important to a supply chain for a targeted industry that Iowa serves. They pay very, very good wages, they treat their people well," said Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham.
The project is expected to be complete in June of 2013.
