INDEPENDENCE, KS-Cessna Aircraft Co. is investing $20.4 million in its Independence assembly plant to support production of the company's single-engine piston aircraft product line and new entry-level business jet, the Citation Mustang. The expansion includes two new buildings: a 90,000-square-foot flight and delivery building, and an 11,000-square-foot aircraft completions building. In addition, Cessna will expand its current customer delivery center by 11,000 square feet. Construction will be completed by the end of this year.

Cessna opened the Independence facility in 1996. It currently produces six single-engine piston aircraft there: the 172R Skyhawk, 172S Skyhawk SP, 182T Skylane, Turbo T182T Skylane, 206H Stationair, and T206H Stationair.

In February, the company announced that it had already received more than 200 orders for the Mustang. Cessna expects to increase its Independence workforce by approximately 625 people to more than 1,100 people over the next few years.