HAZELWOOD, Mo. – The Boeing Company announced Friday a purchase deal that will keep an aerospace manufacturing plant with 550 workers open in Hazelwood.
GKN is the company that previously announced the factory would close.
Financial terms of Boeing’s purchase of the plant have not been released. The union representing workers applauds the announcement.
“Our members at GKN, as well as workers and small businesses surrounding the facility, can rest a little easier tonight, knowing that Boeing has purchased this facility,” IAM District 837 Assistant Directing Business Representative Chris Albin said in a statement. “Generations of dedicated, hard-working workers and their families will now have the opportunity to continue playing a role in keeping our nation safe. We hope the entire community will join us in applauding this agreement.”
Boeing officials said nearly all 550 GKN workers will be joining the company.
“This is a region on the rise,” Jason Hall, Greater St. Louis Inc. CEO, said.
Hall pointed to Boeing’s 2023 announcement of a $1.8 billion investment in the region and other advanced manufacturing investments in the St. Louis region as positive signs.
“We have seen historic levels of investment,” Hall said.
He said the jobs help preserve and grow a tax base that helps pay for first responders, schools, and other community services.
“If we’re going to move forward as a region, we need to keep expanding that tax base, and high-paying career opportunities in a growing sector like aerospace is exactly what we need here to grow our economy and meet the needs of St. Louisans,” Hall said.
Michale Shea is the store manager of Pantera’s Pizza in Hazelwood. He was worried when GKN announced the plant would close and is now relieved to hear those jobs will be spared. He believes the news will have a positive impact on local businesses.
“It pays the bills,” Shea said. “It’s going to make it better for everybody.”
In a statement released Friday, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said, “This is great news for Saint Louis County and the entire region, preserving hundreds of union jobs.”
