NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News-based Aery Aviation is investing $15.3 million to expand its headquarters, which will bring more than 200 new jobs to the area.

“We’ve been dealing with COVID now for 18 months or so it’s been tough on our economy especially certain industries and to have jobs announcements like this will provide people with jobs and the ability to put food on their table,” sad Gov. Ralph Northam at the groundbreaking.

Executive Vice President Scott Beale says it’s an expansion that is set to create 211 well-paid jobs averaging a salary of $85,000. It also allows them to have their manufacturing plant adjacent to where the work is going on, making everything more efficient.

“We’re looking for engineers, mechanics, pilots and we start a lot of our folks out in the intern program through like the governor mentioned as well as bring in folks with decades of experience,” said Beale.

The aerospace company that provides services for both commercial businesses and the government will build a new 60,000 square-foot hangar facility with access to the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport runway. It will also have access to an engineering technology center to expand maintenance and modification services opportunities. They will be merging their five facilities already in Newport News into one.

“The footprint and the size what we can actually fit inside the hangar tremendously increases,” explained Beale.

“Hampton Roads’ rich history in aerospace and aviation provides an ideal backdrop for Aery Aviation to grow and become more successful than ever before,” said Northam. “The region is home to world-class higher education and research institutions that have helped to advance the aerospace industry. We look forward to supporting Aery Aviation as it enters into its next phase of growth here in the Commonwealth.”

The company was founded in 2016 and provides aerospace design, engineering, systems integration, modifications, certification, maintenance, and flight operations solutions.

“Aery has enjoyed the partnership with the Newport News community and airport staff over the last four years,” said Aery Aviation Executive Vice President Scott Beale. “Their collective support and pro-business environment persuaded Aery to invest more than $15 million into the construction, expansion, and upfit of the buildings for this new state-of-the-art facility, which also includes an investment in machinery, tools, furniture, fixtures, and business personal property. Aery is happy to call Newport News its home for decades to come.”

Northam’s office says Virginia beat out Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia for the project.

Beale says they’ll break ground next week and then it’ll take about 10 to 12 months to complete.

The announcement came a day after Northam visited the city to ceremonially sign the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, which was passed earlier this year.