Williams International to Expand its Ogden Location

Pete CodellaNews, Tax Credits

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is pleased to announce that Williams International will expand its operations in Ogden, Utah, creating up to 300 new high-paying jobs in the next seven years. 

“Williams International currently has 500 employees in its Ogden facility, and we’re excited for them to add another 300,” said Val Hale, GOED’s executive director. “The company has experienced tremendous growth over the years, and we look forward to seeing its continued success.”

Williams International is a world leader in the development, manufacture and support of small gas turbine engines. The company also provides research and development services for the U.S. defense industry and aftermarket services to its commercial and defense customers. The Williams facility in Ogden is earth’s most modern and efficient gas turbine design-to-production facility.

“Utah’s strong local workforce combined with GOED’s innovative and collaborative policies make Weber county an excellent place to manufacture jet engines, and we’re very pleased to be able to strengthen the U.S. industrial base while creating high-quality jobs in Ogden,” said Gregg Williams, chairman, president and CEO of Williams International.

Williams Internationals may earn up to 20% of the new state taxes it will pay over the seven-year life of the agreement in the form of a Utah Legislature-authorized Economic Development Tax Increment Finance (EDTIF) tax credit. The GOED Board has approved a post-performance tax credit not to exceed $6,809,580. Each year that Williams International meets the criteria in its contract with the state, it will earn a portion of the total tax credit.

“In a time when supply chains are more vital than ever, we’re thrilled that Williams International has selected Utah for an expansion of its aerospace and aviation manufacturing operations,” said Theresa A. Foxley, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. “The depth of our industry, the availability of skilled talent, and the state’s business friendliness were all key factors in our favor.”

“As one of our largest employers and a key business in our aerospace and defense industry cluster, we are excited that Williams International chose to expand its footprint in Ogden,” said Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell. “This project will bring more quality, high-paying jobs to our community and support the City’s efforts to develop Ogden Airport as a regional center for the aerospace and defense industry.”

State of Utah Tax Credit Projections by the Numbers

Tax Revenue$34,027,902
Wages$91,325,700
Jobs300
Capital Investment$60 million
Timeline7 years

About Utah Corporate Incentives

The Utah Legislature has authorized economic development incentives in the form of post-performance tax credits. Eligible companies work with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development to outline specific performance criteria. Once GOED confirms those criteria have been met, according to statute (U.C.A. 63N-2-106(2)), companies can receive a refund of up to 30% of the state taxes they paid for up to 20 years. The contract with the state is post-performance; it only provides a state tax credit if the company meets its obligations.