Gov. Kehoe speaks on Van-Am aerospace expansion in St. Joseph

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Governor Mike Kehoe spoke at Van-Am's launch of a new aerospace and defense product line supporting a U.S. Navy contract Friday afternoon.

The expansion adds a new product line, increasing the company's capabilities and production capacity in the defense and aerospace industries. The expansion will also support a new defense contract award associated with the MK-41 weapon system, a cutting-edge technology component currently used by the U.S. Navy.

Kehoe said Van-Am represents the great manufacturing found in Missouri.

"In this case, largely the aerospace industry," he said. "We love to celebrate large grand openings with lots of employees but the bread and butter of the small business like Van-Am 17 jobs to this community is really important. We just want to show our support for it and appreciate their investment."

Missouri is growing in the aerospace need.

"It's Van-Am that feeds the parts to those companies that really make a difference. Missouri is getting really well known global for aerospace expertise that's what we want to be," Kehoe said.

The new expansion is expected to create at least 17 full-time jobs over the next two years with an average starting wage of more than $62,000.

"First of all, it's over a million-dollar investment. So that's a big investment for this area when you have 17 jobs, those are 17 families with a spouse, mom, dad, brother and a sister," Kehoe said. "Somebody that is working here that makes it really important for those families that this company can now support."

Local and state leaders say the project strengthens St. Joseph's manufacturing industry and reinforces Missouri's role in the defense and aerospace sectors.