| Alabama's growing technology base, skilled labor force, | | | | 2007. GKN is known for designing, testing, |
| low cost of doing business, lucrative state and local | | | | manufacturing and assembling a wide-range of |
| incentives and friendly environment has drawn | | | | composite structures for civil, military and commercial |
| numerous automotive companies into the state. These | | | | and space programs. As part of the incentive |
| same traits are now beginning to cause a tremendous | | | | package for the expansion, the state contributed $1.5 |
| expansion in Alabama's aerospace and defense | | | | million and the city of Tallassee contributed $250,000 |
| industries. | | | | towards the expansion, with GKN investing $250 million. |
| Northrop Grumman, known as a world leading defense | | | | In an Expansion Management article, Paul Crocker, VP |
| company, currently employs around 1,200 people in the | | | | and General Manager of GKN Aerospace in Alabama, |
| Huntsville, Alabama area near Redstone Arsenal. In a | | | | said "The work force in Alabama is about the best I've |
| continued commitment to the community, Northrop | | | | worked for in 35 years." And "The work ethic of the |
| Grumman will be building a new five building, $80 million | | | | whole work force is tremendous. They work hard and |
| complex in Huntsville to consolidate its various offices, | | | | they work well.". |
| laboratories and R&D centers. | | | | With offices located near Huntsville and Birmingham, |
| Crestview Aerospace, based in Florida, plans to open | | | | The Technology Suits is well associated with |
| a new facility in Fairhope, Alabama to build and modify | | | | Alabama's growing position in the technology, defense |
| rotary wing aircraft for existing contracts. Much of | | | | and aerospace industries. Many in the country view |
| Crestview Aerospace's growth can be attributed to | | | | Alabama as the deep South and behind the times, but |
| an increased demand for the high-tech modification of | | | | this could not be further from the truth. Alabama does |
| military aircraft and a partnering with Boeing, Lockheed | | | | have a strong cultural heritage but has seen huge |
| Martin, Northrop Grumman, Bell Helicopters and others. | | | | advances in higher education and technology related |
| When looking for a U.S. home for its expansion, | | | | business in the past few decades. |
| European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company | | | | The aerospace and defense industries have been in |
| (EADS), based in France, was recently drawn to | | | | north Alabama for decades. However, the relatively |
| Alabama's aerospace industry. EADS's new facility in | | | | recent entrance/expansion of the automotive industry |
| Mobile, Alabama will produce aerial refueling tankers. | | | | by Honda in Talladega, Mercedes Benz in Tuscaloosa |
| The state's incentives and Mobile's easy access to a | | | | and Hyundai in Montgomery has helped to really push |
| deepwater port made the decision to move to Mobile | | | | the next-generation industries in the state. This new |
| an easy one, according to EADS representatives. | | | | wave of aerospace and defense expansions will help |
| GKN Aerospace announced in July that it will expand | | | | to ensure that Alabama keeps its new position as a |
| its Tallassee, AL facility by 120,000 square feet by | | | | leader in technology. |