When Piedmont Triad Airport Executive Director Kevin Baker and other airport officials envisioned creating a new 1000-acre megasite around what was already a thriving airport manufacturing and repair business site, and began buying up a golf course and other land to make that vision a reality, they obviously thought it would be successful, but it’s highly unlikely in their wildest dreams that they could have imagined exactly how successful.
On Thursday, June 12, JetZero became the latest giant fish that PTI has reeled in. The historic investment is expected to bring over 14,000 new aerospace manufacturing jobs to the area. It’s the largest economic development project the state has ever seen.
In a move that’s being hailed by state and local leaders also as one of the most “transformative” economic development projects in the history of North Carolina, JetZero announced it will establish its first US manufacturing plant at PTI.
The company, which is building the next generation of sustainable commercial aircraft, plans to invest $5 billion into the region in addition to bringing in all those attractive jobs.
JetZero is developing the Z4, a revolutionary all-wing jet designed to reduce fuel burn, lower emissions and offer an improved passenger and crew experience. The Z4 features a blended wing body and it will be able to fly up to 5,000 nautical miles while seating 200 to 250 passengers.
The aircraft will also be compatible with sustainable airplane fuel and existing airport infrastructures – promising to make it environmentally and operationally efficient.
Construction on the “Factory of the Future” is set to begin in 2026, with initial production expected in the early 2030s. Once up to capacity, JetZero expects to be producing about 20 Z4 aircraft every month. The Greensboro facility will serve as the company’s flagship manufacturing and final assembly site and it’s expected to generate a host of long-term economic and strategic benefits for the Piedmont Triad and the state as a whole.
Boom Supersonic, has already made PTI an aviation center of attention nationally since choosing to build its ultra-fast high-tech jets at the once humble little airport in the center of the state. JetZero’s arrival at PTI will further solidify the airport’s growing reputation as a national aerospace hub. PTI already hosts a number of high-profile aerospace companies such as Boom, HondaJet and Marshall Aerospace.
The addition of JetZero, airport and economic development officials say, is another major step in making the Piedmont Triad into a global center for aviation innovation.
NC Governor Josh Stein, who was among the many state and local officials instrumental in helping land the project, welcomed the announcement and emphasized both the economic and symbolic importance of the company’s decision.
“I am thrilled to welcome JetZero and its 14,000 good-paying jobs and unprecedented innovation to Guilford County,” Stein said on Thursday. “From first in flight to now the future of flight, North Carolina and our skilled workforce is soaring.”
Even before JetZero chose PTI, Guilford Technical Community College was ramping up programs furiously to help create and assure a constant stream of high-skilled aviation workers. The college is currently building an extremely expensive aviation campus.
Tom O’Leary, the CEO and co-founder of JetZero, said North Carolina’s combination of talent, infrastructure and leadership made it the ideal place for the company to locate.
“This facility is a critical milestone in bringing our all-wing Z4 to market,” O’Leary said. “I applaud the leadership of Governor Josh Stein and his team as well as the leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly, and a whole host of local leaders and organizations for working with us to bring JetZero to North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation.”
Baker, who directs the day-to-day operations of the airport under the purview of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority Board, called the project a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.
“JetZero’s vision aligns perfectly with our mission to be a global center for aerospace excellence for the next century, and we’re proud to help make that vision a reality at PTI,” Baker said.
He is likely partying now harder than he did when his alma mater Lehigh University upset Duke University in the NCAA tournament years ago. (Baker has a picture in his office of the score board after that game.)
The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, which played a role in the recruitment of JetZero, echoed that sentiment.
Chamber President and CEO Brent Christensen said the announcement reflected the culmination of years of work and planning.
“These transformational projects don’t happen by accident,” Christensen said. “They happen because of years of preparation, investment, and collaboration. We’re proud to see that work paying off, and we look forward to supporting JetZero as they help shape the future of sustainable aviation right here in the Carolina Core.”
JetZero is backed by a $235 million investment from the US Air Force and the company has attracted strong interest from commercial carriers as well. United Airlines has placed 100 orders and 100 options for the Z4, while Alaska Airlines has also put in some conditional orders. In addition to that, Delta Air Lines is working with JetZero through its Sustainable Skies Lab.
About 15 airlines have joined JetZero’s Airline Working Group to provide design input – particularly regarding the need for compatibility with current airport operations.
On the manufacturing side, JetZero is working with several established partners, including Northrop Grumman, Scaled Composites, Pratt & Whitney, Hexcel, and Collins Aerospace.
The facility planned for Greensboro will include full digital integration, AI-driven manufacturing, and 3D printing capabilities—technologies that are designed to improve quality, speed up production, and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
The project is of course expected to deliver significant economic “ripple effects,” including workforce training partnerships with area universities, technical colleges and economic development organizations. In addition to Guilford Technical Community College, JetZero is already collaborating with NC A&T State University, NC State, UNC-Charlotte, and the broader University of North Carolina and North Carolina Community College system.
A delighted Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston called the huge announcement a turning point for the region.
“This project will not only redefine our local economy but also open doors of opportunity for generations of Guilford County residents,” Alston said. “We are proud to be the launchpad for this exciting new chapter in American aerospace.”
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who is equally delighted, described the project as “nothing short of historic.”
Vaughan said the decision confirms Greensboro’s growing role in advanced manufacturing and it highlights the importance of public-private collaboration when it comes to driving major investment in the area.
“This $5 billion project cements the Gate City as the ‘Aerospace Capital’ of North Carolina,” Vaughan said.
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Sherri Thomas stressed the teamwork behind the recruitment effort.
“This is more than a win; it’s a turning point that showcases the power of collaboration and the limitless potential of Greensboro,” she said.
The JetZero project was secured largely through the efforts of the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance – a joint initiative of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and the High Point Economic Development Corporation that was formed just over a decade ago. The alliance worked together with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the NC General Assembly, and a range of public and private stakeholders including Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, NC Works, Golden LEAF, and Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority has representatives from a wide service area for the airport. The Authority is governed by a board with representatives from Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Guilford County, and Forsyth County.
PTI is currently the third busiest airport in North Carolina but it can now claim the crown as the center of the state’s growing aerospace industry.
With the Z4 program projected to enter service in the early 2030s – and global air travel expected to double by 2040 – JetZero’s decision to establish its primary production site in Greensboro couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time for the industry. Company officials say the Greensboro facility will play a central role in meeting future global aviation demand, all while helping commercial airlines achieve their ambitious environmental goals.
JetZero’s Z4 aircraft aims to cut fuel consumption by up to 50 percent thanks to its blended wing design, which reduces drag and increases aerodynamic efficiency. That fuel efficiency – coupled with quieter engines and compatibility with green fuels – has the potential to dramatically reshape commercial aviation while also positioning the United States – and North Carolina in particular – to be at the forefront of the industry’s future.
For now, state and local leaders say the focus will be all about workforce development, infrastructure planning, and long-term support for the company as it ramps up its operations.
Career opportunities with JetZero will eventually be posted on both the company’s website and NCWorks.gov, the state-run job platform.
Graham Bennett, Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority Board, summed up the feeling of many who were no doubt popping some champagne Thursday night, even though Friday is a work day.
Bennett said: “This is a monumental win for the Piedmont Triad and the state of North Carolina. JetZero is a bold innovator shaping the next century of aviation, and we’re honored they’ve chosen to build their future here.”
This is really good Scott, but I’m not so sure about the $74 Million Skip Alston is giving them while my house’s property tax bill is set to jump by 50% next year.
Don’t you think that should have been mentioned?
Good for Greensbor. Good for Nirth Carolina.
Not a naysayer, but it’s not really good for Greensboro. The water supply, energy and housing is already at its peak. Greensboro has a limited water supply source, we are dependent on 3 relatively small rivers for our water supply I’m guessing you don’t remember the drought several years back when the city was a couple weeks away from water rationing. Greensboro has almost doubled in size since then and the Randleman reservoir was added but it will not be enough to sustain us in another drought. Growth is good but only if’s sustainable.
Not to mention even more pressure on home prices, rents, and the property tax to support all the new infrastructure. I suggest we set up a board and bet on which of the surrounding counties will be given the honor of displacing its residents to host the next reservoir…….
I thought Randlman dam solved the water supply issue for the triad? I was never on city water while in the triad (now live outside Guilford county) so never really paid that close attention.
Randleman lake helped alleviate pressure on the other lakes but with all the development in the last 5 years along with the huge water line that was installed for the battery plant we are almost back to where we were.
. . . & all those headwaters plus landowners’ wells are contaminated with PFOS/PFAS, fossil fuels, pesticide, herbicide, tank farm fuel etc. seaboard chemical dump etc feeds that reservoir. haw & deep rivers polluted at their source !
Randleman reservoir is good fro 50 years or longer.
what was there prior was better. when the ECO community was removing dams to improve habitats we built that dam & submerged a wonderful deep river riparian watershed. for ‘growth’ of . . .
Randleman reservoir is good for 50 years or longer.
Come they will, if you build it.
we love It until it goes SPLAT ! ask donnie darko
Fingers crossed. Time will tell.
This is a good thing but most people do not know one fact. Buildings owned by PTI on PTI land do not pay property taxes. PTI is an Authority or, essentially, a type of governmental entity. This is the same concept in that places like UNCG or the Federal Courthouse do not pay property taxes to Greensboro or Guilford County. These announcements often herald the expansion of the tax base but in reality the actual building may add little to nothing to the County’s tax base. Instead, the growth will come from new housing and businesses on non Authority sites. Many of these future employees will choose to live outside of Guilford County due to taxes or cost of living. Those communities will struggle to keep up with growth and demand. Water and sewer systems take years to upgrade and cost millions.
Thanks, TL.
In the name of increased housing supply, the city council is already making decisions that negatively impact the quality of life of people who have lived here and paid taxes here for decades. Now that effort is going to shift into overdrive, all for an unproven startup.
Politicians do not care about quality of life. They aspire to growth for growth’s sake.
JetZero Success Shows Need for Business Leadership on City Council
The JetZero announcement is fantastic news for Greensboro. $5 billion and 14,500 jobs will transform our community. But let’s be honest about how this happened: the heavy lifting was done by county officials, state leaders, and the airport authority, not our city council.
As we celebrate this win, we should ask ourselves: When the next major manufacturer evaluates Greensboro, will they find city leaders who can engage at their level? Companies making billion-dollar decisions need partners who understand cash flow, supply chains, and complex negotiations, skills developed through years of actual business experience, not just good intentions.
JetZero validates what many of us know: Greensboro has incredible potential. However, potential without proper execution is just an unrealized opportunity. This November, we can elect council members with the business expertise to ensure JetZero is the first of many transformative investments, not just a lucky exception.
The aerospace corridor emerging at PTI could define our economic future for generations. We need city leadership sophisticated enough to capitalize on this momentum and attract the next wave of major investment.
Nicky Smith
Candidate for Greensboro City Council District 4
I love it. While this will be a challenge for Greensboro I think we can do it. Jump on housing, parking, food and water issues now Greensboro to get ready.
This looks like a win-win deal for everyone. I think that it is going to cost a lot more to live in Guilford County, even more so now. The Boys & Girls downtown are wringing their hands with glee, just thinking of the tax revenue they can use to buy votes.
On a somber note, this aero-space hub here, along with the pipelines and tank farm, is making this area even more a prime target.
Not to mention there 3 major military bases within a 200 mile blast zone
So with the Tax credits/incentives the Board of Commissioners are giving why will our property taxes increase AGAIN in 2026?
Now we know why Greensboro announced the building of 10,000 new homes; not for a current housing crises but for JetZero. How is a startup company founded in 2021 and financed by venture capital able to convince the US Air Force to give $235 million (our tax dollars,) millions from United Airlines, $784 million from Guilford County and Greensboro (our tax dollars,) and additional $1billion from North Carolina (our tax dollars) plus another $450 million (our tax dollars) for site preparation to fly a prototype by 2027. Does this mean that JetZero was able to convince all these investors based on CAD drawings? Did the NC state legislature know about JetZero when Phil Berger led the charge to de-annex David Couch’s land in 2024? Greensboro does not currently have the infrastructure to accommodate the project. With our public schools’ dismal performance, why would JetZero select Guilford? There is far more to this story and the public has no idea.
TERMLIMITS has connected the dots. I don’t know if the dots prove that 2 + 2 = 5, but he’s put forward a coherent theory.
Austin that was what I was alluding to in my first post. Greensboro’s infrastructure cannot support this.
Your concerns are very legitimate, Aussie. When I arrived in Greensboro, its population was about 157,000. I loved the ambience. Now it’s becoming more like Charlotte every day.
The selection process takes years to complete. Since JetZero was founded in 2021, this means JetZero was looking for a location from the beginning. Every location contender has a point person keeping tabs on what is going on and then reporting back to whomever he reports to. Along the way, the point person will gather information for what JetZero was looking for. For example, the point person may report back that JetZero has a concern about housing. The point person reports back that information, hence David Couch and 10,000 new homes. As stated above, “Chamber President and CEO Brent Christensen said the announcement reflected the culmination of years of work and planning.” Whatever has been going on locally during the last several years was to assuage JetZero and convenience them to select this area. JetZero would not have selected this area unless they believed that local governments would give them free movement to pollute or engage in whatever activity was believed necessary to their operations. That’s how it works.