SCHUMER VISITS NORWICH’S UNISON, PART OF GE AEROSPACE, HIGHLIGHTS $3.4 MILLION IN NEW INVESTMENT– SENATOR DETAILS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO BOOST FED FUNDING CRITICAL TO CHENANGO COUNTY WORKFORCE’S CONTINUED GROWTH
Schumer Celebrates Major Investment in Norwich By GE Aerospace To Support Significant Upgrades To State-Of-The-Art Facility In Chenango County & Southern Tier
Senator Stands With GE Aerospace Workers At Historic Unison Facility To Highlight How Their Work Is Vital To America’s Growing Aerospace Industry – For Which He Is Fighting To Bolster Federal Funding In Budget & Via Programs Like His CHIPS & Science Law
Schumer: The Sky Is The Limit For Unison and The Chenango County Workforce
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today visited Unison, a GE Aerospace company, to highlight over $3.4 million in local investment to modernize the plant, purchase new machines, and make major upgrades to keep the Norwich facility on the cutting edge. Schumer said the amazing workforce represents the future of Chenango County and highlighted his continued efforts to deliver federal funding for the defense and aerospace programs that keep work flowing for these nearly 400 workers.
“Unison and GE Aerospace’s commitment to and investment in Chenango County show that the sky is the limit for this powerhouse workforce. The products manufactured here in Norwich help power the helicopters that keep our nation strong, our troops safe and have ignited rockets that sent astronauts into space,” said Senator Schumer. “The $3.4 million in new investment is going to keep this plant on the cutting edge and help them be prepared for future growth. I am fighting at the federal level to increase support for our troops and bolster the next generation research into aerospace technology, like I have already done in programs like FAA Reauthorization this past spring and via my historic CHIPS & Science Law. As we enter the appropriations season, it is good-paying jobs and facilities like Unison here in Norwich that I have top of mind so we can continue to support America’s leadership in manufacturing the technology that will power the future of flight.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer to GE Aerospace’s Norwich facility, where we are investing in the future of flight, a strong national defense, and New York’s Southern Tier region,” said Phil Wickler, Chief Transformation Officer, GE Aerospace. “This $3.4 million investment will help produce more high-quality parts for both commercial and military engines, today and in the future. We appreciate Senator Schumer’s strong support and advocacy in Washington D.C., which is allowing us to make critical investments right here in New York to grow our local workforce and support the region’s economy.”
The planned $3.4M investment will purchase inspection tools and additional tooling for increased capacity, invest in new machines for production of key components in advanced military engines, replace equipment and make upgrades to the facility to improve the shop layout and enhance key building systems.
GE Aerospace is a leading provider of jet engines, components, and systems for commercial and military aircraft with a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aerospace and its joint ventures have an installed base of more than 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines, and the business is playing a vital role in shaping the future of flight.
In particular, Norwich workers produce products that include electrical and mechanical systems, advanced gas turbine components, starter systems, and various other product lines and services. Workers in Norwich conduct processes such as assembly, machining, welding, brazing, plating, soldering and countless others to support the needs of the products and the aerospace industry. This site has over 35,000 part numbers and manufactures approximately 1 million parts a year, servicing over 140 global customers.
Schumer explained the announcement of the new investment comes as he is pushing to bolster funding for many of the programs that the Norwich facility makes components for which is critical to driving future work to the facility and prepare it for growth. This includes both the Defense Appropriations process and boosting funding for key aviation and space programs like NASA.
GE Aerospace’s facilities plays a key role in developing advanced technologies and engines for notable programs such as the U.S. Army’s Black Hawk and Apache helicopters and the Air Force’s advanced propulsion programs. GE Aerospace’s Unison facility in Norwich produces temperature sensors and the alternator for the engines that power the F-15EX and are developing components for next generation propulsion programs that will power 6th generation fighters like NGAD and F/A-XX. Schumer said how the contributions GE Aerospace has made towards these programs is invaluable, and fighting for future funding will be his priority to advance these programs and their operational success. In the FY25 Senate Defense Appropriations bill, Schumer secured $842 million for the US Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program and $130M to fund the integration of the cutting-edge T901 engine—the next-generation engine for the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters—for which GE Aerospace in Norwich manufactures the temperature sensors and alternator. Schumer vowed to continue fighting to secure these funding levels in the final FY25 defense appropriations bill, which will support these jobs in the Southern Tier for years to come.
Additionally, GE Aerospace’s Unison site in Norwich supports a variety of customers to manufacture, test and support ignition systems for space launch propulsion. These systems are integral to NASA’s Artemis V mission to the Moon, and Senator Schumer said he routinely supports funding for the Artemis program through the annual appropriations process. To continue American leadership in space, Schumer helped secure $7.67 billion for space exploration in fiscal year 2024, an increase of nearly $200 million above the prior fiscal year, and made sure NASA received funding to meet all contractual obligations for its Human Landing Systems. Senator Schumer said he will fight to ensure funding for NASA’s Artemis program is sustained in fiscal year 2025 so that the United States can maintain its leadership in space exploration and innovation.
The Norwich Facility has an over 75-year history in advancements in both air and space travel with producing the first electronic ignition system used in the 1963 Centaur Space Vehicle, and multiple products in the 1969 Apollo 11 launch and moon landing being manufactured in the Norwich Facility.
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