More jobs coming to Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – A major aviation company that repairs, overhauls and maintains private jets is coming to Chattanooga.

West Star Aviation announced that it will set up shop at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. But that wasn’t the biggest news that has local and state leaders licking their chops. The $22.5 million investment is expected to create hundreds of high paying jobs.

"If it follows the same thing that our other locations followed, it will grow from 175 to 225 people over five years," said West Star Aviation CEO Ron Rasberry.

"I have nothing but optimism about the way they will grow. If you look at the history of West Star and what they’ve done elsewhere, I think we’re going to see a repeat here," said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.

West Star Aviation currently operates similar facilities in Illinois, South Carolina, Colorado and Missouri. And all those locations have generated hundreds of employment opportunities. But Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke wasn’t only looking at job creation with this announcement. He was also looking at diversifying Chattanooga’s economy.

"We always want to see a variety of businesses in our community so that if any one sector starts to have economic problems, we have others that can compensate for it," Berke said.

The Chattanooga facility is expected to service private jet companies along the East Coast.

There was no official time table on when operations would begin.