New Ukrainian drone company to bring jobs to Cumberland County
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Ukrainian drone manufacturer is bringing its first North American headquarters to Cumberland County, a move local officials say will spark a new wave of defense innovation and high-tech job growth in the Sandhills region.
Skyeton, a leading developer and supplier of unmanned aerial systems for commercial, industrial, and military use, will invest $3.4 million to transform the former Black & Decker site into a state-of-the-art drone production facility.
The project is expected to create 162 high-tech jobs with average salaries of nearly $71,000, well above Cumberland County's current average of about $50,000.
Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere said the county's proximity to Fort Bragg and its focus on workforce training were key factors.
It's a great win for the community- Rob Patton Jr., executive vice president, Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp.
"The proximity to Fort Bragg or actually military, the training that we're doing in our community college and university systems, you know, we're setting ourselves up in that space," deViere said. "This decision by the company reinforces what our community has been saying is that we're ready."
"It's a great win for the community," said Rob Patton Jr., executive vice president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC).
Patton called the project a turning point for the area, especially after recent industry losses.
"With the loss of Goodyear, it gets us really further on the map with manufacturing and advanced manufacturing. This is an area that we really haven't touched a lot on as a community."
Officials say Cumberland County stood out in a competitive selection process, with the region's strong military connection and Fayetteville Technical Community College's training pipeline helping to secure the deal.
Skyeton's arrival is expected to boost the local economy and strengthen the area's growing defense sector.
During the next decade, the investment could generate more than $68 million in economic activity and add new tax revenue to support the community, officials said.
"We are ready to welcome companies across the board," Patton said. "This is actually manufacturing the systems, and they're looking for a lot of machinists. So CNC operators, everything from painting because the drones have to be painted. They're looking for quality assurance, quality control folks so that it is truly manufacturing."
State and local leaders, including Gov. Josh Stein, praised the announcement, calling it evidence of North Carolina's ongoing ability to attract advanced manufacturing investment.
Officials say hiring and work to transform the facility should begin soon.
