Aurora Flight Sciences is expanding to meet the needs of an additional contract, the details of which have yet to be announced.
The $15 million expansion will mean the addition of 250 jobs in the coming years, Joe Higgins told Lowndes County supervisors this morning.
Higgins, CEO of the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link, went before the board seeking their support, by way of a $9-million bond issue or state loan, on behalf of Aurora to purchase “high-tech” equipment for fiber layout, paint and product testing. Aurora will be responsible for paying the money back.
The state already has agreed to provide a $3 million grant for the project, he said.
The Golden Triangle Regional Airport also is taking out a $300,000 loan, as part of the expansion. Those funds will go toward revitalization of the airport, to support the project.
“I think 250 more aerospace jobs helps us on our goals of expanding the aerospace park,” Higgins said, noting jobs at Aurora pay higher than the county average.
Aurora, which produces unmanned aircraft systems, opened a 22,000-square-foot plant in Columbus in 2007, after spending two years at a temporary manufacturing facility at Mississippi State University”s Raspet Flight Research Lab in Starkville.
In 2008, Aurora opened a 66,000-square foot addition to the facility.
Friday, Aurora”s Columbus plant was recognized by United Technologies for 100-percent on-time deliveries for an entire year with 100-percent defect-free products.
The company last year unveiled its Orion unmanned aerial vehicle, a drone with a 135-foot wingspan designed to remain in flight for five days at 20,000 feet and capable of carrying a payload of 1,000 pounds.
The Orion project was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Defense The company already was working on sonobuoy launchers for the Navy”s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
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