Major Aerospace Investments Fuel St. Louis Growth
Date Posted: September 1, 2026
Posted In: Discussion, Regionalism, What we are thinking about,
Major investments by Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and West Star Aviation are adding facilities, technology and jobs across the St. Louis region, reinforcing aerospace as a significant driver of construction and workforce development.
Executives from the three companies outlined their growth during the 2026 Global Aerospace Summit, held Aug. 19-20 in O’Fallon, Ill.
The panel included Chad Nicklaus, Boeing’s director of St. Louis Site Integration and manufacturing leader for its St. Louis operations; Tony Ray, vice president and general manager of St. Louis Completions for Gulfstream Aerospace; and Brian Bauwens, director of Bombardier Business Development for West Star Aviation. Mary Lamie, executive vice president of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, moderated.
Boeing Investing Billions in Regional Capacity
Boeing has about 18,000 employees and $2 billion in active payroll in the region, supporting defense programs including the F-15EX, F/A-18 Super Hornet, T-7A Red Hawk and MQ-25 Stingray.
Growing demand for the F-15EX is driving a $1.8 billion expansion near St. Louis Lambert International Airport as Boeing prepares to increase production from one aircraft per month to two.
“We’re answering that call by actually investing in our capacity, hiring and expanding our operations,” Nicklaus said.
Across the river, Boeing also has invested approximately $200 million in its new MQ-25 production facility at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah.
Gulfstream Builds St. Louis Footprint
Gulfstream initially established maintenance, repair and overhaul operations at St. Louis Downtown Airport before adding aircraft completions and outfitting, including interiors, cabinetry, paint, avionics and flight testing.
Ray said the expansion represented an investment of more than $30 million and added more than 200 jobs. Gulfstream delivered its first locally completed aircraft in 2023 and expects another strong delivery year in 2026.
“It’s a booming aviation hub, with a very skilled workforce, and we’re continuing to partner with and invest in this community,” Ray said.
West Star Expands in East Alton
West Star Aviation operates more than 600,000 square feet at St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton, where it employs just over 700 people. It also operates a hangar at St. Louis Downtown Airport.
Growth has included additional hangar capacity and investments in scheduling and planning technology. Bauwens said 117 aircraft were on site at the time of the summit.
West Star also is pursuing acquisitions to expand its engineering and repair capabilities and additional foreign aviation authority certifications that allow it to service internationally registered aircraft.
“We’re trying to bring more money into the region,” Bauwens said.
Workforce Critical to Continued Growth
All three companies pointed to workforce availability as critical to future expansion.
Boeing recently marked the first anniversary of a mechanic apprenticeship program combining classroom education with hands-on production training. Nicklaus said 230 graduates have moved into regular production jobs. Boeing’s longstanding partnership with St. Louis Community College has provided a pathway for approximately 1,300 production hires since 2007.
Gulfstream is working with schools, community colleges, universities, military programs and career and technical education providers, including Southwestern Illinois College and Lewis and Clark Community College.
“The types of careers and jobs available within our industry can be life-changing,” Ray said.
West Star has developed the West Star Aviation Academy with Southwestern Illinois College. Bauwens said the program recently graduated its fourth class and has achieved approximately an 85% retention rate.
Investment Ripples Through Built Environment
For the St. Louis built environment, the aerospace expansion reaches well beyond the three companies.
Boeing’s multibillion-dollar growth, Gulfstream’s continued development at St. Louis Downtown Airport and West Star’s expanding East Alton operation create opportunities for contractors, designers, engineers, specialty trades, suppliers and workforce organizations.
The companies occupy different points in an aircraft’s life cycle — manufacturing new aircraft, completing business jets, and maintaining and modifying aircraft already in service.
What they increasingly share are needs for facilities, technology and skilled people — making aerospace an increasingly important piece of the region’s construction and workforce economy.