Brice Wallace
Salt Lake Business Journal
A company that specializes in producing parts for older military aircraft will expand by 96 high-paying jobs in the next two decades.
KBR Wyle Services LLC will invest $7 million to expand its operations in Clearfield. The announcement followed the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity board approving a tax credit incentive of up to nearly $3 million for the project during the board’s April meeting.
“Our national security and solutions business is very excited to be expanding our operations in the Clearfield, Utah, facility,” Tiffany Ryan, senior manager of tax at KBR Inc., told the board.
The Clearfield operations focus on working with the U.S. Air Force to sustain its older aircraft fleet. That involves digital engineering services and additive manufacturing to maintain the older models and their parts. For more than two decades, KBR has helped the F-16, A-10 and T-38 system program offices in Clearfield.
KBR (Kellogg Brown & Root) is a global company providing science, technology, engineering and logistics support solutions. KBR serves both the private and public sectors by providing services such as scientific research, defense systems engineering, operational support, cyber analytics/cybersecurity, and sustainable decarbonization solutions.
Houston-based KBR employs about 38,000 people worldwide, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries.
“We are excited to continue investing in our people and operations as we build on our strong heritage in the state,” Reggie Hamilton, KBR’s vice president for national security solutions, mission technology solutions, said in a prepared statement. “Utah provides KBR with access to quality engineering talent from top-tier academic institutions, and we aim to be a top workplace destination for our growing workforce.”
GOEO documents indicate the average pay for the new jobs will be $117,725. New wages over 20 years will total nearly $166.9 million. The project is expected to generate new state tax revenue of nearly $10 million during that time.
Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd said the city is excited about the company’s expansion.
“We believe that they will have a significant impact and a positive impact,” he told the GOEO board. “We’re ‘Utah’s Military City,’ and that fits right in with what KBR does and the services that they provide, so we think that they will be a great continued partner to boost Clearfield’s economic growth and enhance the employment opportunities within the city.”
“It’s a wonderful expansion for Utah’s Military City,” added Carine Clark, GOEO board chair.
Daniel Royal, GOEO business development director, said the company had also considered locations in New Mexico and Oklahoma for the project. “This was a very competitive project, and we’re glad that they were able to choose Utah and then we were able to give our support to this project,” he said.
“Utah’s aerospace and defense industry is a key driver for our state’s economic growth, serving as a foundation for innovation and technological advancement,” Ryan Starks, GOEO executive director, said in a prepared statement. “Customer-focused, cutting-edge solutions are essential in shaping a brighter future for all Utahns. Every new breakthrough strengthens our legacy of growth, and we are excited to see how KBR will contribute to this vital sector.”
GOEO does not provide upfront cash incentives. Each year that an incentivized company meets the obligations in its contract with GOEO, it will qualify to receive a portion of the new, additional state taxes the company paid to the state.