AAR to Bring 200+ Jobs to Duluth

It’s a great day in Duluth! This afternoon we announced an agreement with AAR to bring over 200 jobs to Duluth. According to the AAR representative, the jobs will pay between $30k-80k depending on technical skills. AAR will operate out of the old Northwest Airlines base at the airport.

I want to point out the importance of the team who made the AAR deal possible. The City’s Business Development Director Brian Hanson was the leader of this effort and we literally had dozens of partners who contributed to this effort. Thanks to DEDA, APEX, the Airport Authority, DEED, Governor Dayton, St. Louis County, Monaco Air, and our city staff who have been working on this deal for the past year. We also need to especially thank the 700 people who came to our job fair – that was the difference maker.

AAR officials hope to start hiring this summer – once fully staffed this operation will have a $25 million impact on our region. Not only will the City be receiving rent on the facility, but we will be avoiding the $180k that it costs to keep the building heated and the equipment in working condition. I’d say that today is most certainly a Perfect Duluth Day!

16 Comments

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago

A few more details released by the city: 

AAR is a provider of products and services to aerospace, government and defense industries. The company was incorporated in 1955 and has revenues of approximately $2 billion with 6,200 employees in 17 countries. AAR is the largest independent provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services in North America. 
 
AAR started exploring Duluth as an option to expand its aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations in the spring of 2011 after meeting Brian Hanson (DEDA) and Rob West (APEX) at an industry conference. 

Hanson, West and Bryan Ryks, executive director of the Duluth Airport Authority, led a team that worked directly with AAR to secure its expansion to Duluth.
 
The announcement comes after extensive background work, a methodical labor market study and demonstration of an existing talent pool in the region and state. A career and networking fair last fall garnered interest and attendance from well over 320 individuals, half of whom were skilled A&P mechanics.

AAR has indicated that it would occupy 152,000 square feet of the facility and could hire up to 225 people with the facility at full capacity. AAR plans to start preparing the facility for occupation immediately and intends to secure a customer for the Duluth operation later this summer.

HipCast

about 13 years ago

This is great news for the area!  Thanks to all who were involved with making this happen.

Ramos

about 13 years ago

Whenever I see politicians signing a paper at a desk surrounded by grinning, beefy swells, my warning radar goes up. I can't remember any big company subsidized by the city who met the job-creation requirements they signed on for initially.

Not that this might not be a good thing. Just don't go counting your unhatched chickens too fast, is all I'm saying. Phrases like "could hire" and "hope to start hiring" are loaded.

They do seem to get a lot of juicy government contracts related to Homeland Security. Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is on their board.

Ramos

about 13 years ago

Oh, and Magic Johnson is an investor, so maybe it's a slam dunk.

I made that up myself.

jessige

about 13 years ago

This is great news.  Congratulations to all who worked to make it happen.

adam

about 13 years ago

I'm really impressed with the local governments work with the aerospace industry - Duluth and Superior are really doing a great job of incentivizing the decision to do business here.  

5000 new residents by 2020, Mr. Ness?  We are well on our way.

baci

about 13 years ago

Well done! Good all the way around.

adam

about 13 years ago

This is excellent news. I will require maintenance, repair and overhaul services once Genesis completes my giant robot.

almost duluth

about 13 years ago

Great news, Duluth!

vicarious

about 13 years ago

In related news, Cirrus announced that its jet project is a definite "go": 

Cirrus Aircraft lands financing for new jet

baci

about 13 years ago

Thunderbirds are Go!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K9rVRuehGU

consuelo

about 13 years ago

Nice work, everyone! A good boost for Duluth.

So, any prospective employees need a house by the mall? Leave me a note in a yellow envelope in the paper towel dispenser at Barnes and Noble's at Miller Hill. Mark the back with the number 53. It is important that you comply.

ndawg

about 13 years ago

Any job(s) announcement in Duluth is a good thing for our community. Good job on selling our city and its assets. There are a lot of jobs that are on the books to be added to the Twin Ports!

in.dog.neato

about 13 years ago

The Krewe love Thunderbirds Are Go! it was on Netflix for a while, so we got a couple of views in. Marionettevision at its best!

Herzog

about 13 years ago

This means we'll all be able to sell our houses! Those who really really want to anyway, can now, double thanks to Don, just click their heels. I take back everything I said, especially after today's glory, and I assure you, Costa Rica has nothing to do with my one year plan.

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