PORT ANGELES — Angeles Composites Technologies Inc. today announced an expansion of 50,000 square feet and about 50 jobs in 2011 — which could be followed by hundreds of more jobs in future years.
And the decision means the company next to William R. Fairchild International Airport won’t be moving elsewhere.
Mike Rauch, president and CEO of ACTI, said other cities and states had tried to lure the company, which makes aircraft composite parts, away from the North Olympic Peninsula.
“It was a tough decision,” he said, “but I have a vested interest in this community, my shareholders have a vested interest in this community and our employees have a vested interest in this community.”
Rauch signed a letter of intent to lease two new buildings from the Port of Port Angeles, which owns the airport and the industrial park next to it.
Port of Port Angeles commissioners President George Schoenfeldt said work will begin soon on a 25,000 square-foot building to be completed by the end of 2011.
A second 25,000-square-foot building for the company will begin construction in 2012, he said.
Rauch said “strategic expansion” would lead to the addition of 40-50 jobs in 2011.
“Depending on how well I do creating a pipeline of business, there could be hundreds more,” he said.
