Park Aerospace Plans $65M Composite Materials Plant at Tulsa Airport

Park Aerospace Plans $65M Composite Materials Plant at Tulsa Airport

Park Aerospace will invest roughly $65 million to build a new composite materials manufacturing plant at Tulsa International Airport, Plant Services reports, with construction set to begin soon and completion targeted for 2028.

Market Impact

The facility will sit on 18 acres in the North Development Area at Tulsa International Airport and is expected to create more than 100 new jobs once operational. Park Aerospace produces advanced composite materials for commercial aerospace and defense applications, and the new plant will manufacture those materials on-site.

Brian Shore, Chairman and CEO of Park Aerospace Corp., said the company was grateful for the welcome from Oklahoma officials and the airport, calling it “a privilege to join the wonderful Tulsa community.” Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt framed the project as part of a broader trend, saying the investment “reflects the strength of our workforce, our pro-business environment and the momentum we’re building as a destination for advanced aerospace manufacturing.” The project adds to a string of recent Oklahoma manufacturing investments, including a Kratos turbojet engine facility, a Blue Whale Materials battery recycling expansion, and a NorSun solar wafer plant, according to Plant Services.

What It Means for Subcontractors

• Civil and site-work contractors should watch for early bid packages tied to the 18-acre North Development Area site prep, since construction is expected to begin soon ahead of a 2028 completion.
• Mechanical, electrical and specialty industrial trades familiar with composite materials manufacturing environments should position now for subcontract packages as Park Aerospace moves from site selection into construction planning.
• General contractors and trade crews working the Tulsa International Airport corridor have a multi-year build cycle to plan around, running from groundbreaking through the 2028 completion date, offering steady regional work beyond this single project.
• Local workforce and staffing firms in the Tulsa area should prepare for hiring demand tied to the 100-plus new jobs the facility is expected to create once operational.