Vermont Aerospace Industries wants people to know the company isnt going anywhere

Vermont Aerospace Industries wants people to know the company isn’t going anywhere.  The manufacturer supplying parts to defense and aerospace customers has been here for four decades and has no plans or desire to be anywhere else, said General Manager Tim Melita. He spoke about the company’s commitment to the area and its local workforce in response to a statement made on Tuesday by Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce Director Loralee Tester. Tester, who serves on the board of Let’s Build Homes, a newly established coalition tasked with promoting efforts to increase housing stock in the state, spoke during the official launch in the Statehouse. Communicating the struggles of what a lack of housing means for the Northeast Kingdom.  Among the points she made was how it impacts the manufacturing sector. She mentioned three local manufacturers by name. In the case of Vermont Aerospace, Tester told the Statehouse gathering that the housing challenge has led the company to consider leaving the state. That is not the case, said General Manager Tim Melita. “In fact, we’re going in the opposite direction,” he said. “We just renewed our lease on this building for five years.” Melita said the company has 72 employees, and I think we could put 15 machinists to work without even batting an eye,” he said..