WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A new aerospace manufacturing facility is set to transform the job market in Houston County, with KIHOMAC announcing plans to break ground on a 130,000-square-foot complex that will create 75 full-time positions in the region.
The facility, located in the Robins International Industrial Park, represents a significant investment in Middle Georgia's aerospace industry, which already employs more than 30,000 workers across the region.
For local students like Shayla Wodi, 18, the announcement represents more than just job creation — it's a pathway to a promising career. A student at Central Georgia Technical College, Wodi says she discovered her passion for aerospace engineering through a career aptitude test and has since embraced hands-on learning in fabrication and blueprint design.
"I didn't really know much about it at first," Wodi said. "Math isn't my strong suit, but the more I read into it, the more I realized this is something I could enjoy."
The new KIHOMAC facility will focus on manufacturing metal, composite, and electrical components for aerospace applications, both for domestic and international markets. The company, a veteran-owned small business headquartered in Reston, Virginia, currently employs approximately 350 people throughout the United States.
Houston County continues to be a critical hub for aerospace development, particularly with the presence of Robins Air Force Base, which employs approximately 24,500 people and serves as an economic anchor for the region. In fiscal year 2021, the base awarded $933 million in contracts to Georgia firms, with over $200 million going directly to Houston County companies.
Local economic development officials see the KIHOMAC facility as another step in establishing Middle Georgia as Georgia's "Aerospace Corridor." The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and will be situated in an area experiencing rapid growth.
For students like Wodi, the expanding industry offers hope and opportunity.
"Aerospace is definitely growing," she said. "People are realizing it's good money and a great field to work in."
The facility's construction is a result of a partnership between KIHOMAC, the Joint Development Authority of Peach County, and the City of Warner Robins according to a release from the city.
As the aerospace sector continues to evolve, with technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing techniques emerging, students are preparing for a dynamic and promising career landscape. For Wodi and her classmates, the KIHOMAC facility represents not just a new building, but a gateway to future opportunities.
The facility is expected to complement existing aerospace operations in the area, particularly those supporting the Robins Air Force Base's mission of military aircraft readiness.