The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission announced that Thrush Aircraft, an Albany manufacturer specializing in aerial application aircraft, would create 100 new jobs in Albany-Dougherty County to support the growing demand for the company's agricultural, patrol and forestry airplanes.

The announcement came at Thrush's campus during the monthly board meeting of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, which in September 2016 kicked off its existing industry tour and #MadeInAlbanyGA industry marketing campaign. The highly successful campaign focuses on an existing industry each month.

The Albany-Dougherty EDC launched its April segment featuring Thrush.

“Being ‘Made in Albany’ has helped enable Thrush’s success,” said Payne Hughes, president of Thrush Aircraft. “We see our job as being there to help our customers do their jobs better; success for one brings success for the other, and collaboration is necessary to make that happen. The same can be said for producing our airplanes in Albany. Thrush is proud of the expansions we have been able to accomplish with the help of the Albany-Dougherty EDC. We’re very excited about Thrush’s future in the
aviation industry and in this community.”

Hughes says the expansion is due to worldwide growth in the agriculture equipment industry, along with the addition of two new product lines- the reproduction of a 700 gallon agricultural plane known as the Thrush 710, and a newly developed patrol model designed for military purposes.

Today there are more than 2,100 Thrush aircraft operating in some 80 countries around the world, most of which are the Thrush 510 model, powered by either the new GE H80 turbine engine or the Pratt and Whitney 34 turbine engine.

Thrush airplanes have been produced in Albany since 1965 under several corporate names, and the company today employs more than 270 people. During the next three years, Thrush has committed to creating 100 new jobs - bringing its total work force to nearly 400 - primarily in production and quality control.

“This is a great announcement for Thrush and for Albany and Dougherty County,” said ADEDC President Justin Strickland. “The Albany-Dougherty EDC places a strong emphasis on working closely with its existing industries, which account for up to 80 percent of job growth in communities. Thrush is an incredible company to work with and they are a committed stakeholder in our community. They’ve seen the value of doing business in Albany, and the decision to continue investing in the community through job growth is a testament to our capability as a manufacturing location, and to the strength of workforce.”

Last week, as part of Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week and its annual ADEDC Industry Awards, the agency presented Thrush with the Global Commerce Award for its consistent and significant growth in markets across the world.