BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – There’s a new aerospace manufacturer setting up shop on Port of Port Angeles property, and it looks like they’re going to be bringing a lot of well-paying jobs to the community.
Honda Aircraft Company, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, has officially acquired ACTI, the aerospace parts company at the Port of Port Angeles, effective at midnight this Friday night.
Port Commission President Steve Burke confirmed that with KONP on Friday.
“Well, as of tomorrow, ACTI will be acquired by Port Angeles Composites, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Aircraft Company, and they will be continuing to make aerospace products, and specifically for HondaJet.”
Burke confirmed that the company is likely to expand their footprint at their campus, probably by a lot. ACTI posted on their website recently that they had received all necessary approvals to add an additional 140,000 sq. ft. of workspace to their already massive 100,000 sq. ft campus.
The company said in a statement obtained by KONP that all ACTI employees are expected to continue their employment at the new company, and the new entity will enter into new supply agreements with existing customers to ensure continuity of service.
It’s a little early to tell how many new jobs Honda will bring to town, but Burke said he believes it will be somewhere in the range of the number of jobs that were lost when the McKinley Mill closed, or well over a hundred.
“We are really excited for the Port of Port Angeles to be able to partner with an international manufacturing company to bring jobs, and well-paying jobs to our community.”
This is a developing story. We hope to bring you more in the near future.