WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will welcome U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Tuesday, October 28, to tour IMPulse NC in Mount Olive and the Global TransPark (GTP) in Kinston, North Carolina. IMPulse and the Global TransPark are examples of two local businesses that would benefit from the passage of H.R. 5561, the Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act of 2014.
Congressman Butterfield introduced the Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act in September to connect the north-south Interstate 795 corridor from the City of Goldsboro to Interstate 40 by ensuring improvements to a section of U.S. Highway 117 through Mount Olive. H.R. 5561 would also guarantee the U.S. Highway 70 corridor through Kinston from Raleigh to the Port of Morehead City is built to interstate standards and prioritized when allocating funding for federal highways. This legislation is key to IMPulse and the GTP’s growth since both are economic drivers and major employers in the region.
“Improving access to eastern North Carolina is essential to boosting economic development, stimulating job creation, reducing traffic congestion,” Butterfield said. “The Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act would connect military bases, cities, and business throughout eastern North Carolina, including Mount Olive and Kinston, with an important port, the state capital, and the entire eastern seaboard. I thank Secretary Foxx for visiting the First District, and I look forward to discussing with him the future of transportation in eastern North Carolina.”
During the tour of IMPulse NC, Butterfield and Foxx will be joined by IMPulse President Jeff Wharton, Vice President of Operations Butch Campbell, Vice President and Controller Sandy Facello, Factory Leadman Gary Thigpen, and Manufacturing Engineer Alan Story.
At Global TransPark, Butterfield and Foxx’s tour will be guided by Executive Director Sherman Lupton, Airport Director Rick Barkes, Spirit AeroSystems A350 Operations Director Tom Greenwood, Spirit AeroSystems Vice President and General Manager Charles Baggett, and Spirit AeroSystems Operations Director Jeff Lohrengel.
Following the official tour, Butterfield and Foxx will meet with a dozen students from Spirit AeroSystems Composite Center of Excellence (CCoE), a training center designed to serve the growing aerospace industry in Eastern North Carolina as well as the education and training needs of companies throughout the region. The facility also features two composites training labs, operated by Lenoir Community College to support pathways for careers in aerospace and related industries. Students will have the opportunity to share with the Congressman and Secretary the importance of the training they receive at CCoE.
Tomorrow’s schedule is as follows:
1:30 pm Arrival at IMPulse NC, 100 Impulse Way, Mount Olive, NC
1:50 pm Tour of IMPulse NC
2:15 pm Meet and Greet IMPulse NC Employees
2:30 pm Press Availability, Front entrance of IMPulse NC
2:45 pm Depart for Global TransPark Tour, 3800 Hwy. 58 North Kinston, NC
3:40 pm Arrive at Kinston Regional Jetport
3:45 pm Tour Kinston Regional Jetport Control Tower
4:05 pm Tour Spirit AeroSystems Production Facility
4:25 pm Meet with Students at CCoE, Press permitted
4:45 pm Remarks on Future of Transportation in Eastern NC, Press permitted
5:00 pm Q&A from Invited Guests (Time Permitting)
5:30 pm Program Ends
5:35 pm Depart