Bombardier Business Aircraft is continuing to expand its a customer support efforts with today’s groundbreaking for a new $100 million, 300,000-sq-ft service center at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport that will double the company’s footprint in Florida and extend its reach in both the U.S. and Latin America.

To be operational in 2020, the center will house up to 300 employees and will provide a range of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modifications, avionics installations, and aircraft on ground support for Bombardier’s Learjet, Challenger, and Global business jet lines. In addition, the facility will have paint capabilities. Plans call to shift work and capabilities from its nearby Fort Lauderdale center, but that base will continue to provide line maintenance.

“By doubling our capacity to support more aircraft, and adding new capabilities, our customers will benefit from the peace of mind that comes from our OEM expertise and from reduced aircraft downtime,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Bombardier Business Aircraft vice president and general manager of customer experience.

Bombardier credited the support the state of Florida and Miami-Dade County in the project. The facility is located on one of the largest general aviation airports in Miami-Dade County, the company noted, and  is helping in the county’s efforts to develop a comprehensive aerospace cluster in the region.

“Miami-Dade County is proud to be a key player in Bombardier’s grassroots development of the aerospace industry in our region,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “This new facility will employ nearly 300 of our residents in high-paying jobs averaging $70,000 annually, while also forging workplace partnerships with our local schools for continuing career opportunities.”

The center is part of a larger effort by Bombardier to build up customer support throughout its service center network and mobile response teams globally. Along with its future plans in Miami, Bombardier is hiring maintenance technicians throughout its network to accommodate recent expansions, citing a need to fill both technical and professional openings.

“Technicians will receive Bombardier’s Type Training Course for mechanical and avionics certification to provide maintenance services at all Bombardier’s nine service centers worldwide,” the company added.