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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

JetZero Plans Greensboro, North Carolina, Headquarters-Production Operations

06/17/2025
Aerospace startup JetZero plans to establish operations in Greensboro, North Carolina. The $4.7 billion project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

The investment will include the construction of a new manufacturing and headquarters facility, located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport, which will house production for the company's commercial all-wing design airplane, the Z4.

"North Carolina offers the ideal combination of talent, infrastructure, and forward-thinking leadership to support our mission to reshape aviation," said Tom O'Leary, CEO and co-Founder of JetZero. "This facility is a critical milestone in bringing our all-wing Z4 to market. 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."

The project will be supported, in part, by a Transformative-class Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 37-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $259.4 billion. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the 14,564 new jobs and capital investment, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,017,775,800, spread over 37 years.

“With an internationally recognized aerospace cluster of more than 400 companies and major aviation hubs across the state, North Carolina is a top choice for manufacturers and suppliers,” noted North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “JetZero will benefit from our Tier 1 research institutions and community colleges, ecosystem of industry partnerships, and strong infrastructure, helping them soar in North Carolina and beyond.”

Should JetZero create and maintain at least 10,000 jobs, the threshold for the JDIG’s transformative qualities will be reached, which allows for grant payments to be made for up to 29 years as long as performance targets are maintained. Like all grants from the JDIG program, any state payments only occur following performance verification each year by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.

"This announcement is a testament to North Carolina's growing reputation as a magnet for aerospace innovation and top-tier STEM talent," added Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. "With our rapidly growing population and dynamic workforce, we're attracting industry leaders to create quality jobs that will strengthen our local economy and communities across the state."

Because JetZero chose a site in Guilford County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 2, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving as much as $113 million into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities anywhere in the state finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business.

“JetZero’s decision to bring its cutting-edge Z4 production to PTI is another powerful signal that this region is becoming a national leader in aerospace innovation,” added Brent Christensen, President and CEO of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. “These transformational projects don’t happen by accident, 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.”

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Community College System, Guilford Tech Community College, Forsyth Tech Community College, the University of North Carolina System, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Golden LEAF Foundation, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, Guilford County, GuilfordWorks, Forsyth County, the Greensboro Chamber, High Point Economic Development Corporation, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., City of Greensboro, City of High Point, and City of Winston-Salem.

JetZero’s Z4 planes are equipped with seating for 250 passengers, at up to 50% better fuel efficiency than today's commercial tube & wing jets. The company has secured investments and conditional purchase agreements from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.

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