By Breeanna Jent and Alexander Edwards

The Gazette

Ohio-based aerospace company SelectTech Services Corporation is expanding to Colorado Springs.

Company leadership, Gov. Jared Polis and local business and economic development officials announced the expansion on Wednesday afternoon during the 41^st Space Symposium held at The Broadmoor.

SelectTech is a mission-driven company that supports the U.S. military and other partners through manufacturing, design, integration and technical support services for air- and ground-based products, according to a joint news release from Polis’ office and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

“We only have 170 people in the company now, so doubling that here in CO is a big lift for us and something we’re excited about,” said Heather Fattah, SelectTech president and chief executive officer.

The company selected El Paso County for its proximity to government clients such as the Air Force and Space Force, as well as original equipment manufacturers in the aerospace industry.

Company leaders also pointed to “the region’s specialized talent within the aviation industry” which will “advance SelectTech’s commitment to key capability development” as contributing factors.

“Our growth is about more than adding square footage or a headcount; it’s about investing in people and a place,” Fattah said in a news release. “El Paso County stood out to us as the right place to grow our small business because it’s a community that prioritizes its people, long-term partnerships and responsible growth over rapid scale. We’re excited to build a workforce where our employees can establish meaningful careers while contributing to the long-term success of the region in aerospace manufacturing and mission-critical capabilities.”

“One of our big flagship programs is an airworthy system that flies around the (Secretary of War) and kind of turns the back of a C-17 into something like Air Force One,” she added. “This facility (in Colorado Springs) is more of like a high-volume facility, where we’re going to do a lot more repeatable type integration work.”

SelectTech builds ground systems such as composite-sided, sensitive compartmented information facilities, Fattah added. The company also focuses on what Fattah called “defense integration.”

“Defense integration is really about taking whatever the best solutions are from a technical perspective and kind of looking at the mission and then putting them together,” she said. “We do manufacture some goods and services, but really it’s more about having the technical expertise to research and find what the best already available solutions are and combining them.”

The company expects to create at least 150 net jobs at an average annual wage of $85,927, or 126% of the countywide average annual wage. Positions will include engineers, technicians, buyers, managers, planners and technical writers.

State and local leaders on Wednesday lauded El Paso County’s and Colorado’s leadership in the aerospace and defense sectors, their roles in national defense, their specialized, highly skilled workforces, and El Paso County’s pro-business environment.

“SelectTech’s expansion reflects the intentional work happening across our region and is a clear signal that El Paso County continues to lead aerospace and defense growth at a national level. … We’re proud to support SelectTech’s growth and welcome their team to our community,” said Bonnie Goff, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s vice president of economic development in the release.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission in January approved up to roughly $1.98 million in performance-based job growth incentive tax credits for SelectTech over eight years. The company was referred to by code name “Project Oak” throughout the incentive process, a common practice. SelectTech must meet net job creation and salary requirements to receive the tax credits.

SelectTech also considered expanding in Ohio, the release said. The company currently has more than 160 employees, 13 in Colorado.