By Nicky Smith
June 12, 2025
Today marks a watershed moment for North Carolina and the Greensboro community. JetZero has officially chosen Piedmont Triad International Airport as the location for a factory that is expected to generate 14,500 jobs. This is the largest single-employer announcement in the Triad’s history and the largest job commitment in North Carolina history.
I had the incredible privilege of witnessing this historic announcement firsthand at PTI today, and I can tell you that the energy in the room was absolutely electric. Governor Josh Stein declared that there could be an economic impact of $250 billion for the state, and as he put it so perfectly: “North Carolina was first in flight, we are also the future in flight.”
The scale of this commitment is breathtaking. The average wage of a job with JetZero will be $89,341, and no new job will pay less than $18.75 an hour. This isn’t just about quantity — it’s about quality jobs that will support families and build generational wealth in our community.
If the company hits certain economic and investment milestones, the state’s grant will total $1.17 billion over 10 years, while Guilford County approved an incentive package of $75,933,517 paid over 20 years. These are performance-based investments that will only pay out when JetZero delivers on its promises.
What makes today’s announcement even more remarkable is how it builds on the foundation we’ve already established. As I wrote in my recent analysis, PTI is already home to over 8,600 workers, with companies like Boom Supersonic, Honda Aircraft Company, and major aerospace service providers creating a proven ecosystem for innovation.
Because of its unique design, JetZero’s Z4 will be up to 50% more fuel efficient. With a 5k nautical mile range, it will open new route opportunities for airlines at a significantly better operating cost. This isn’t just manufacturing—this is next-generation technology that positions North Carolina at the forefront of sustainable aviation.
But here’s what today’s success really tells us: North Carolina can compete with anyone when we have the right leadership and business-friendly policies in place. Councilman Zack Matheny noted that JetZero “didn’t just choose the PTI Airport. They chose this community.”
This is exactly the kind of transformative economic development we need more of, and it requires leaders who understand how to work with businesses, not against them. After 47 years as a successful business entrepreneur and leader in this community, I know what it takes to attract and retain companies like JetZero.
Skip Alston, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, said it perfectly: “This project will not only redefine our local economy but also open doors of opportunity for generations of Guilford County residents.”
But we can’t stop here. To continue attracting world-class companies like JetZero, Greensboro needs unabashedly pro-business City Council leadership. We need leaders who understand that economic development isn’t just about incentive packages—it’s about creating an environment where businesses want to invest, expand, and thrive.
That means:
When I look at today’s success, I see the result of years of relationship-building, strategic planning, and collaborative leadership between state, county, and local officials. This is exactly the kind of experience I bring to the table.
My 47 years of business leadership have taught me how to:
As Tom O’Leary, co-founder of JetZero, said today: “The state becomes the epicenter of the next era in flight.” I want to help ensure that Greensboro remains at the center of that transformation.
Today’s historic announcement proves that when North Carolina puts its mind to something, we can compete with anyone in the world. But this is just the beginning. We have the opportunity to build on this momentum and attract even more transformative investments to our community.
That requires City Council leadership with the experience, connections, and business acumen to make it happen. It requires leaders who view economic development not as a nice-to-have, but as the foundation for everything we want to achieve as a community — better schools, safer neighborhoods, improved infrastructure, and opportunities for all our residents.
The choice this fall is clear: We can continue building on today’s success with experienced, business-focused leadership or risk losing momentum at the most critical time in our city’s economic development history.
I’m running for City Council because I believe our best days are ahead of us, and I have the experience and connections to help make that vision a reality. Today’s JetZero announcement isn’t the end of our story — it’s the beginning of a new chapter, and I want to help write it.
Together, we can build a Greensboro that continues to attract world-class companies, create exceptional opportunities for our residents, and lead North Carolina into the future of economic prosperity.
Additional Reading Resources:
JetZero Selects North Carolina for $4.7B Production Facility; Will Create Over 14,500 Jobs
JetZero confirms Greensboro airport as a finalist site
Gov. Josh Stein announced $4 billion investment in NC from airplane manufacturer
JetZero to bring thousands of jobs to Greensboro with new facility as incentives approved
Ready to help build Greensboro’s future? Support my campaign to bring experienced, results-driven leadership to the City Council. Every dollar helps us build the infrastructure, policies, and partnerships needed to attract more game-changing projects like JetZero.
If you believe in a future where Greensboro thrives through jobs, innovation, and accountability, please consider donating to Nicky’s campaign today. Even a $20 contribution can help us drive real change and keep our city moving forward.
