A California aerospace manufacturer is relocating to Little Rock. On April 14, Arcturus Aerospace, a veteran-owned aviation manufacturing company, announced that it will be shifting its operations to Arkansas, where it will provide CNC machined parts and delivery for aircraft manufacturers.
The company was founded in 1984 and came under its current ownership in 2015. The company was originally established as Helderlein Engineering and Consulting (HEC) and is currently located in Oxnard, Calif.
Mark Greenwell (via LinkedIn)
Owner and company president Mark Greenwell said the decision to move to Little Rock was motivated by the region’s growing aviation industry with its skilled workforce. “We are thrilled to relocate to Little Rock and join the momentum of the region’s growing aviation industry. Little Rock and Arkansas provide our company a skilled workforce, logistical advantages and a competitive business climate,” Greenwell said in a statement.
Arcturus Aerospace will be creating six high-paying jobs during the initial phase of its relocation. The company did not specify the pay range. Three management positions will also be moving to Little Rock.
Aerospace and defense products represent Arkansas’ single-largest export category. In 2018, the state exported a total of $6.447 billion in products. Of that total, 15.4 percent, or $995 million, were for civilian aircraft, engines and parts. Another 7.2 percent or $463 million was for bomb, mines or ammunition.
Arkansas’ 2017 aircraft exports accounted for more than 24 percent of the state’s total export total. In 2017, the state exported 1.593 billion in aircraft parts – or 24.1 percent of its total $6.234 billion in exports.
“We’ve worked hard to make Arkansas a great choice for small businesses, especially those that are high-tech, and aerospace is a dynamic and growing industry for us,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “I find it especially gratifying to see that veteran-owned Arcturus is taking advantage of our business climate to both relocate and hire locally.”
READ MORE: Prepare for Takeoff – Corporate Aviation
