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Aviation company Joby receives grant to support California facility expansion

Joby Aviation Inc., a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, has been awarded a US$9.8 million California Competes grant by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to support the company’s continued statewide expansion.

The US$9.8 million grant will assist in financing a significant expansion of Joby’s facilities in Marina, California — supporting higher manufacturing volumes and initial training for pilots and aircraft maintainers — as well as continued hiring at the company’s other California offices located in San Carlos and Santa Cruz.

As part of the agreement, Joby has committed to invest US$41.3 million and create 690 additional full-time jobs in the state by 2027.

The CalCompetes grant enables Joby to accelerate early manufacturing in California to support the company’s ongoing type certification program with the Federal Aviation Administration as well as for initial commercial operations, expected to begin in 2025; and will also help expand Joby’s existing apprenticeship program.

Originally established in partnership with the Monterey Bay Drone, Automation and Robotics Technology (DART) Initiative with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, Joby has hired more than 30 composite fabrication, aircraft assembly, and equipment maintenance technicians through the program to date.