Local Aviation Manufacturer Plans to Add Jobs With Expansion

Radiant Power Corp. — a designer and maker of backup power and cabin power management products for commercial airlines — is expanding its Manatee County operations and plans to add 26 jobs over five years.

The company, which located near the airport in Manatee County in 1999, will expand its 20,000-square-foot facility, said Sharon Hillstrom, president of the Manatee Economic Development Corp. The 6,300-square-foot expansion s designed to accomodate a growing engineering team that wll develop new products. The company also recently purchased a company in Hatsfield Pa. and is relocating that business to Manatee County that will need more production space.

The Manatee Board of County Commissioners approved $26,000 in performance-based incentives and an estimated $1,343 in transportation impact fee incentives for the project. The 26 jobs that Radiant Power plans to add will pay an average of 15 percent more than the county's average wage.

Anish Patel president of Radiant Power Corp. said the company will be hiring for a variety of jobs from engineering and professional to technical and support jobs.

“The Manatee Board of County Commissioners recognizes that having a business-friendly reputation is a key to attracting business expansion and relocation,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. “We are reinforcing that reputation by judiciously applying job-creation incentives and expediting the permitting process when appropriate.”

A wholly-owned subsidiary of HEICO Corp., Radiant Power designs and manufactures custom power supplies, inverters and lighting controls. Radiant Power’s products are on Boeing aircraft, as well as numerous regional jets and business jets.

“With assistance from the Manatee EDC and Manatee County Government, we will be able to accelerate our expansion and hiring, which enables us to meet growing demand as the aviation sector continues to recover from the recession,” Patel said. “We have already filled two engineering positions and anticipate adding production staff before the end of the year.”

Radiant Power currently has 64 employees in Manatee County. Job candidates may send their resumes or inquiries to hr@radiantpowercorp.com.

A list of Manatee County's economic development incentives is available at www.mymanatee.org/econ_dev.