President Obama Mentions Gray Project in State of the Union Address

During President Obama’s State of the Union address delivered January 24, 2012 in Washington, D.C., President Obama focused on a Gray Construction manufacturing plant construction project, The Siemens Gas Turbine facility in Charlotte, N.C. 

The President stated, “Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.

I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did. Join me in a national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. My Administration has already lined up more companies that want to help. Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, Orlando, and Louisville are up and running. Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers – places that teach people skills that local businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.”

Gray is proud to have played a role in adding additional jobs to the manufacturing market by designing and building Siemen’s 489,905 s.f. Gas Turbine manufacturing plant and office complex on the campus of Siemens’ existing Steam Turbine and Generator Service Center in Charlotte, N.C. This was the largest project for Siemens worldwide during construction and the largest project in Charlotte in 30 years.

Other recent Gray projects that are playing a role in helping put Americans back to work include: Adena Beef, Wilson, Fla.; Austal, Mobile, Ala.; Caterpillar Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C.; Clarks Companies, N.A., Hanover, Pa.; JBS USA, LLC, Cactus, Texas; Morton Salt, Inc., South Hutchinson, Kan.; Whirlpool Corporation, Cleveland, Tenn.

President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address.

Learn more about Workforce Development and Why Big Business and Industry Are Heading South.