If Boeing wins a $40 billion Air Force contract to build a fleet of aerial tankers, the manufacturer's reliance on North Carolina suppliers could lead to at least 250 additional jobs across the state. It could also inject $10 million a year into the economy, Rep. Louis Pate (R-Wayne) said Tuesday. "This is more jobs than Google has promised us," Pate said.

Google is building a $600 million computer center in Lenoir that is expected to create 210 jobs. It could get as much as $260 million in state and local grants and tax breaks over 30 years.

Boeing is competing for the tanker contract against the team of Northrop-Grumman and EADS, the corporate parent of Europe's Airbus. A decision is expected in February.

Supporters speak up

At a news conference Tuesday morning at the North Carolina VFW headquarters in Raleigh, Pate and the president of the state AFL-CIO, James Andrews, pushed lawmakers to support Boeing's bid.

Pate said that if Boeing gets the contract, it will support 44,000 U.S. jobs. If Northrop/EADS wins, however, it would mean 25,000 U.S. jobs, because much of the manufacturing would be done overseas.

"It's time for our elected officials in Washington to stand up and fight to make our economy strong," Andrews said. "What do we get in return for sending all these jobs overseas?"

Among Boeing's potential suppliers for the aerial tankers in North Carolina, according to the company, are Curtiss Wright Controls of Shelby; Kearfott Guidance & Navigation in Black Mountain; Kidde Technologies in Wilson; Mountain Aircraft Services of Kinston; and Triumph Actuation Systems in Clemmons.