Titanium company creating 300 jobs with a new manufacturing facility
The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is proud to announce that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for its aerospace-grade titanium mill. The company will create over 300 jobs, with an average salary of $123,476, while investing more than $867 million in buildings and equipment.
Project Aero addresses a substantial manufacturing supply chain need of the United States’ aerospace industry – namely, the availability of aerospace-grade titanium. Aerospace Manufacturers value titanium for its unique properties. Titanium can be combined with many other metals, such as aluminum, vanadium, and iron.
Titanium alloys are valued by aircraft manufacturers, as well as across many industries due to their low density, high strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. The company’s project in Fayetteville will establish approximately a 500,000-square-foot facility and campus that is purpose-built to melt, roll, and finish titanium.
“With 20 plus years at U.S. Steel and 13 years at Nucor Corporation, developing five greenfield steel mill projects, I am proud to lead the construction of such a mission-critical project, ” said LeRoy Prichard, President of Capital Projects for Project Aero.
In May, the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County approved incentive packages designed to support the project, provided the company achieves required performance benchmarks.
“We are thrilled that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for their new state-of-the-art facility, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” said County Chairman Glenn Adams. “When we, as the Board, consider which projects to recruit into our community, we are always mindful of the impact on our residents and the opportunities they will provide. We want everyone to know that Cumberland County is open for business and hope this will spur continued economic growth.”
“This project highlights our potential in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, making Fayetteville poised for tremendous growth and increased prosperity,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “This historic investment will create several hundred high-paying jobs, with average salaries nearly double the national average and significantly higher than the average salary in North Carolina. We are excited to welcome this transformational project to Fayetteville and look forward to the future opportunities it will bring."
On behalf of the company, Project Aero Chairman Teresa McBride expressed appreciation for all that is being done to support the project.
“This would not have been possible without the support of Governor Roy Cooper, the State of North Carolina, Cumberland County, The City of Fayetteville, Fayetteville PWC, Dr. Franklin Clark, and Piedmont Natural Gas. We are grateful for the tireless effort FCEDC President & CEO Robert Van Geons and Executive Vice President Rob Patton have given to advance this project. We would also like to specifically thank Mayor Mitch Colvin, Chairman Glenn Adams, and PWC CEO Tim Bryant for their leadership and support,” said McBride.
In a release today announcing the project, Governor Roy Cooper said “From the moment the Wright brothers pioneered powered flight at Kitty Hawk, the aerospace industry has been a cornerstone of modern life, driving technological advancements and fostering connectivity. North Carolina offers aerospace manufacturers like this one in Cumberland County a talented workforce, worker training systems, and world-class transportation networks that will help them grow and succeed in our state.”
Methodist University golf national champions honored
Representatives of the national championship-winning Methodist University men's golf team were recognized on Monday at the White House as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris hosted NCAA championship teams from the 2023-24 season.
MU's Head Men's Golf Coach Steve Conley and players Chase Walts and Caleb Ryan attended the event that celebrated the team's 14th NCAA Division III National Championship, which was won in May in Las Vegas. Conley was named national coach of the year for the ninth time, and both Ryan (a senior) and Walts (a junior) earned first-team All-American honors.
The ceremony can be viewed by visiting https://www.youtube.com/live/eujVj7dE3_M
MU also had members of its nationally renowned PGA Golf Management program in attendance, including MU Women's Golf Head Coach Kelsie Warren. Warren was also a national champion at Methodist University and a four-time All-American. The MU women's program has won 26 national titles.
To learn more about MU's PGM program – which has a 100% student job placement rate in the golf industry since 1989 – visit methodist.edu/pgm

(Bottom Photo: Methodist University Golf national champions (l-r) Chase Walts, Coach Steve Conley, and Caleb Ryan pose at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday prior to being honored for their 14th title by Vice President Kamala Harris and others. Photo courtesy of MU)