La Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico – February 23, 2026 – The Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González Colón, announced today, alongside the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), Sebastián Negrón Reichard, and the Vice President of Operations at Collins Aerospace, Javier Ramis Rivero, a major expansion of Collins Aerospace. The project represents a total investment of $40 million and the creation of 525 new highly skilled engineering jobs across Santa Isabel and Aguadilla.
The project will increase Collins Aerospace’s workforce in Puerto Rico to 2,100 employees. It includes the expansion of advanced manufacturing operations in Santa Isabel and the strengthening of the engineering center in Aguadilla, reinforcing Puerto Rico’s progress as a strategic hub within the global aerospace industry.
“Puerto Rico’s economic development is built on attracting and retaining high-value industries that create well-paying jobs. This expansion demonstrates the aerospace sector’s confidence in our talent, our infrastructure, and a public policy framework aligned with sustained growth. With this announcement, we continue delivering for our people through job creation, which now exceeds 4,300 new jobs,” stated the Governor.
Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard highlighted the project’s strategic impact on the Island. “This expansion, which we announce today in partnership with the company, is the result of effective collaboration between the public and private sectors. At DDEC, we have supported this project because of its direct impact on specialized job creation, investment in advanced technology, and the strengthening of Puerto Rico’s aerospace value chain,” he said.
Given the project’s strategic value, DDEC awarded approximately $11.6 million in incentives to support job creation, machinery and equipment investment, and infrastructure improvements. In addition, DDEC allocated $704,500 in federal funds under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to Collins Aerospace’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. This allocation supports on-the-job training for 62 new employees in the following occupations: inspection technicians (30), machine operators (22), and test drivers (10).
Incentive allocations include $9,497,750 in Santa Isabel for job creation, machinery and equipment acquisition, infrastructure development, and the strengthening of a high-impact economic project, as well as $2,143,750 in Aguadilla.
“The expansion of Collins Aerospace confirms that Santa Isabel has become an engine of economic development for southern Puerto Rico. This operation directly impacts 175 families in our municipality and throughout the southern region, representing $9.5 million in new job creation and strengthening our local economy. I thank Governor Jenniffer González Colón for her leadership in attracting investment and quality jobs to our Island, as well as RTX and Collins Aerospace for continuing to trust in the talent of our people. When you invest in Puerto Rico and in municipalities like Santa Isabel, the results translate into progress, innovation, and opportunity for our communities,” said Mayor Meldwin Rivera Rodríguez.
“The expansion of Collins Aerospace in Aguadilla is excellent news for the economic development of our city and the entire northwest region. This type of investment strengthens our engineering and technology ecosystem and creates real opportunities for our residents and future generations,” said Mayor Julio Roldán Concepción of Aguadilla.
For his part, PRIDCO Executive Director Roberto Lefranc underscored the role of industrial infrastructure in economic development. “At PRIDCO, we continue to maximize the use of our industrial facilities to attract world-class investment. This project not only revitalizes existing infrastructure in Santa Isabel and Aguadilla, but also drives regional economic development and reaffirms the value of public-private collaboration,” Lefranc noted.
“Puerto Rico is a strategic hub for Collins’ continued sustainable growth,” said Javier Ramis Rivero, Vice President of Global Operations at Collins. “Our planned expansion will create a shared infrastructure focused on strengthening electronics manufacturing, from design through production, enhancing support and on-time delivery to our customers. This will enable us to optimize productivity and automation, delivering scalable automation solutions, connected factories, and hands-on learning environments.”
Currently, RTX employs nearly 2,900 people in Puerto Rico, more than 1,500 of whom work at Collins Aerospace. The company also maintains partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations to develop specialized talent for the aerospace sector.
With this investment, Puerto Rico further strengthens its position as a competitive center for advanced manufacturing, engineering, and innovation within the global aerospace industry.
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