Williams International invests $1B to build aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility in Florida
Williams International has announced plans to build a high-volume aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility in Crestview, Florida. The company, which designs, manufactures, and supports aviation gas turbine engines, is investing more than $1 billion in the project, creating over 330 jobs.
The facility will be developed in three phases within the Shoal River Industrial Park in Okaloosa County. The first building, totaling 250,000 square feet, is scheduled to begin construction later this year and be completed by late 2026. Additional phases are set for 2028, with the final 500,000-square-foot facility planned for the 2035–2036 timeframe.
Support for the project includes a $3.2 million award from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to expand manufacturing in the region. FloridaCommerce collaborated with CareerSource Florida, Florida’s Great Northwest, Space Florida, Okaloosa County, and Triumph Gulf Coast to help bring the project to fruition.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Gregg Williams, Chairman, President, and CEO, Williams International, said, “We are very excited about starting our next phase of growth in Northwest Florida. 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.”
Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, added, “This billion-dollar investment is a major win for the Free State of Florida and for Floridians. 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.”
Manufacturers investing in Florida
Bauducco Foods invests $200M to build new baked goods manufacturing facility in Florida
Bauducco Foods has broken ground on a new facility in Pasco County, bringing hundreds of jobs and expanding its production capabilities in the U.S.
Cosentino invests $270M to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Florida
The company hopes the new plant’s location will help streamline distribution channels in North America to meet demand for the brand’s most sought-after colors.
Lithium Battery Company invests $4M to establish battery manufacturing facility in Florida
The expansion will include a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation and feature five specialized assembly lines.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2025
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn