ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Officials in a south-central Kansas county are hailing a $220 million defense contract for a local plant as the latest piece of positive economic news.

The Arkansas City Traveler reports  the Navy awarded the contract to GE Aviation’s engine services plant in Winfield to repair and overhaul helicopter engines.

The Cowley County plant has 654 employees. Manager Jorge Perez says the multi-year contract won’t add jobs but is good for the stability of the operation at Strother Field Industrial Park.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef in Arkansas City plans to add 300 jobs over three years as it builds a new, 71,000-square-foot building. The meatpacker now has about 720 workers.

And employment at Winfield’s Newell Rubbermaid plant has grown from 565 to 969 in the past two years.