FOLEY, Ala. — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby paid a visit to Foley Monday morning as part of his statewide jobs and industry tour.

While in Foley, his seventh stop in a trip to each of the state’s 67 counties, the senator toured UTC Aerospace Systems.

“I’m using my time to visit a business in each county,” he said after the plant tour.

Foley Mayor John Koniar pointed out that UTC was an ideal stop, given the potential for more jobs in the aerospace industry, thanks to Airbus coming to Mobile.

“UTC is poised to grow and expand,” he said.

Koniar explained that such expansion in this industry will also take place at Vulcan, which is set to add 60 new jobs.

“They’re good paying jobs,” the mayor said.

Located on West Fern Avenue, UTC Aerospace Systems manufactures major aircraft airframe components, such as electrical wire harnesses, thrust reversers, fan cowls, intel cowls, pylone and struts for such customers as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, GE, IAE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin.

“This business is a high-tech skilled business,” Shelby said.

“We’re honored that Sen. Shelby visited our Foley facility to meet with our executive team and see our operations there firsthand,” said Aerostructures President Marc Duvall. “We’re very proud of our operations in Foley, and we’re delighted to show him what we accomplish daily with a dedicated team committed to continuous improvement.”

Koniar explained that Shelby could be an important factor to ensuring high-tech industry expansion and defense-job growth in and around Foley.

“The senator has lots of seniority,” he said. “He can be a key player.”

For Shelby, such thinking is a mission.

“Job creation must be our top priority as a nation, and it will be the focus of my statewide travel,” he said. “It is critical that I hear firsthand from job creators and workers how federal policies are affecting economic growth, and what we can do to create more jobs in Alabama. These conversations with my constituents have always played a critical role in informing how I vote on issues before the Senate, and I look forward to traveling throughout the state again this year.”

Since 1987, the beginning of Shelby’s first term in the U.S. Senate, he has held more than 1,800 county visits in Alabama.