Cirrus invests $13M to expand aircraft manufacturing facility in North Dakota
Cirrus has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The company, which manufactures the best-selling single-engine piston aircraft and personal jet, is investing $13 million in the project and expects to create new jobs over the next five years.
The expansion will add 30,000 square feet to the existing 165,000-square-foot facility and will support production of the SR Series and Vision Jet. The project includes the addition of new equipment, technical tools, and storage to meet growing manufacturing needs. Cirrus aircraft are equipped with advanced systems such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland as standard features. The expansion is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer, Cirrus, said, “We have worked closely with the Grand Forks legislature and community to invest in the growth and expansion of a facility that not only supports manufacturing the best-selling single-engine piston aircraft and best-selling jet—right here in Grand Forks. Cirrus is deeply committed to safety, innovation, quality and contributing to the long-term economic vitality of the region.”
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