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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth Communications Office
Mayor Roger J. Reinert
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information, please call 218-730-5309
DATE: 10/3/2013
SUBJECT: Duluth Aviation Sector Soars with Addition of Jobs
BY: Pakou Ly, Public Information Coordinator
SUBJECT: Duluth Aviation Sector Soars with Addition of Jobs
BY: Pakou Ly, Public Information Coordinator
Duluth Aviation Sector Soars with Addition of Jobs
[Duluth, MN] – Duluth, known for its beautiful natural surroundings, has another claim to fame as a hub of aviation ingenuity and job growth in the Midwest. One company in particular, AAR, has already surpassed their initial hiring goal, and still has a number of vacancies.
Today, Mayor Don Ness joined officials at AAR with Lake Superior College for a media event announcing job growth in the region. Duluth welcomed AAR, a global commercial aviation and defense contractor, to the region in November 2012 as the primary occupant of a previously vacant aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility. AAR started with one line of maintenance and a goal of employing 225 full-time, permanent workers. It recently added a third line and currently employs 276 workers, with approximately 40 more positions to fill.
“We have openings that require varying skill levels, from aircraft repair and support technicians to stock and receiving clerks. We also have a few opportunities in management,” said Mark Ketterer, Director of Maintenance, AAR Aircraft Services Duluth. “AAR is in Duluth to stay.”
Mayor Ness and business leaders are happy to help companies such as AAR identify the talent it needs to be successful. Duluth’s overall economy is on an upward swing with the addition of 1,540* jobs in the past year, an unemployment rate of 5.5%* (2 points below the national average), aircraft maintenance jobs that pay $29 per hour which is more than the national median, and a projected growth of almost 40%* in aerospace products and parts manufacturing over the next 7 years. Mayor Ness and the City’s partners want to make sure job seekers do not miss out.
“Duluth’s aviation sector is growing. We want people to take advantage of these skilled well-paying jobs in a growing industry… and by the way, as a signing bonus you get to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the Midwest,” says Mayor Ness.
In addition to attracting talent to the area, Duluth’s educational partners such as Lake Superior College, are taking the opportunity to partner with businesses to nurture and develop local talent by offering specialized training programs.
“Lake Superior College is committed to economic development by aligning education and training to our region’s workforce needs,” said Dr. Patrick Johns, LSC’s President. “We are ready to provide the continuing education and contract training that the industry requires, and we are in the process of developing degree programs in aviation mechanics and general aviation technology.”
Over the next five years, the Twin Ports region will see the addition of 1500 aviation sector jobs. With this growth, comes the need for workers. This positive economic outlook bodes well for Duluth and the region as a whole but job seekers are the true beneficiaries.
Interested applicants can go to www.aarcorp.com, select ‘Careers,’ drop-down search for Duluth and fill out an application.
* Data provided by MN Department of Employment and Economic Development
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