Pratt & Whitney Columbus facility named Large Manufacturer of the Year

Pratt & Whitney's facility in Columbus, Ga., has been named Large Manufacturer of the Year by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Technical College System of Georgia. The plant, which employs nearly 2,000 workers, includes the Columbus Engine Center, Columbus Forge, and the company’s new global Forging Center of Excellence. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp.

The company, a manufacturer of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, is investing more than $450 million to grow its Columbus, Ga., facility and to create more than 500 new jobs as part of its ramp in production to meet the growing needs of its Geared Turbofan engine and F-135 production lines. It has collaborated with Georgia Quick Start to refurbish a Columbus Technical College facility to provide advanced technical training designed specifically for Columbus Forge and the Columbus Engine Center. The firm also donates more than $500,000 annually to support activities like STEM labs for local schools, as well as scholarship and internship programs.