By Ann Rubin
Hazelwood, MO (KSDK) - Hazelwood is flying high with word that Boeing signed a $30 billion deal to make fighter jets for Saudi Arabia.
NewsChannel 5 has learned this big business deal will help smaller companies in Hazelwood survive.
For those that work and live around Hazelwood, the hope is that the benefits of this deal will trickle down, not just to Boeing suppliers, but also to other small businesses nearby.
Call it a Christmas present for Boeing employees.
A newly inked deal with Saudi Arabia will mean production of 84 new F-15 fighter jets here in St. Louis, keeping workers on the line for years to come.
"My job here is sustained now for some time," said Boeing electrician Oscar Harrell.
In addition to the new F-15s, the $30 billion deal includes modernization of 70 existing aircraft, as well as munitions, spare parts, and maintenance.
"You could probably quantify hundreds of smaller suppliers whose direct business is because of a contract like this," said outgoing RCGA President Dick Fleming.
The U.S. government says the deal will support 50,000 jobs for at least a decade.
The St. Louis RCGA estimates many of those will be in our region.
"We don't yet know incrementally how many net new jobs this may represent, but even if it doesn't represent any, the fact that we are sustaining the heart of a 15,000 job employer in this region for the foreseeable future, is certainly good news to end the year on," said Fleming.
Just down the street, the newly re-opened Hazelwood Bowl is hoping what's good for Boeing is good for them too.
The previous owners closed down after the Ford plant did.
"Definitely when that happened it definitely was bad. So something positive and business coming back and life coming back to this area is awesome," said new owner Robyn Clark.
Upgrades of the existing planes should begin in 2014.
The first of the new planes is set to be delivered to Saudi Arabia in early 2015.
KSDK