20 Nov 2007 | Ref. 364/2007
GRAINGER COUNTY, Tennessee — BAE Systems has opened a 33,000 square-foot facility in Grainger County, Tennessee to accommodate production, integration and assembly of the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), a new generation of protective gear for the U.S. Army.
During the ceremony, Ray McElhaney, executive director of the Douglas Cherokee Economic Development Authority welcomed BAE Systems to Grainger County by presenting the key to the city. “BAE Systems has again demonstrated its commitment to eastern Tennessee, Grainger County, the Army, and the American Soldier," said McElhaney.
The addition of the facility creates 185 new jobs and qualifies the Grainger community for a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration to support the development of a new local wastewater treatment facility.
Also speaking at the ceremony were Colonel John J. McGuiness, project manager, Soldier Equipment and Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Myles, Jr., product manager Soldier Survivability for the U.S. Army Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier; representing BAE Systems' were Joe Coltman, general manager for Individual Equipment, and Bryan Stiles, vice president of operations, Individual Equipment.
“We are excited to continue our work in Grainger and to provide new jobs and economic growth opportunities for the people of eastern Tennessee,” said Coltman. “Over the past decade, BAE Systems and its legacy companies in this area have produced protective gear for the soldiers--ultimately protecting those who protect us. We’re proud to call Tennessee our home.”
“This facility represents a true community partnership. Grainger's civic leaders have been instrumental to today's successful opening,” said Stiles. A recent grant for $700,000, secured by the Douglas Cherokee Economic Development Authority, will expand the Grainger facility from 33,000 to 53,000 square feet during 2008.
The establishment of BAE Systems – Grainger builds on nearly a decade of investments made by BAE Systems to the eastern Tennessee community. The company has more than 1,000 employees located at the Jefferson City and Kingsport, Tennessee facilities.
The IOTV provides increased protection from bullets and fragments to soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, and meets the PEO Soldier's goals of providing troops with the most advanced protective gear available while also improving comfort and mission effectiveness. On June 8, 2007, BAE Systems was awarded a $112 million contract for IOTVs. To date, IOTV shipments exceed 70,000 units with approximately 400 vests to be produced at the Grainger facility per day.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with 96,000 employees worldwide, had 2006 sales that exceeded $27 billion on a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings, Inc. for the whole of 2006.
For further information, please contact:
Jessica Pantages, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 312 6157 Mobile: +1 703 439 0345
Jessica.Pantages@baesystems.com
Shannon Smith, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8257 Mobile: +1 703 967 3854
shannon.n.smith@baesystems.com
