By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) on Monday formally announced that the State of Alabama has successfully recruited the country’s oldest firearms manufacturer to Alabama.
Governor Robert Bentley said in a written statement, “I am honored to welcome Remington to Alabama. The Alabama workforce, our business climate and our quality of life continue to make Alabama extremely attractive to companies. Remington will soon experience the same type of success that other companies in Alabama have already experienced. Today’s announcement will create more than 2,000 jobs in Huntsville, and reflects a statewide capital investment of $110 million. Our relationship with Remington is just beginning, and I look forward to a continued partnership with the company.” Governor Bentley made the announcement at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce with Remington, state and local officials.
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield (R) said, “Alabama’s pro-business environment and its highly skilled work force are making our state a choice destination for top-flight companies like Remington, Airbus and Mercedes-Benz. Remington is a historic brand, and this project proves that Alabama can compete against any state. We look forward to a long, fruitful relationship with this great company.”
The Chairman and CEO of the Remington Outdoor Company George Kollitides said “With the acquisition of this facility, we plan to create 2,000 jobs in Huntsville over the next decade. This additional capacity is essential to fulfill demand and introduce new products. Having watched our Company grow from 2,400 employees in 2008 to 4,200 employees by the end of 2013, a five year, 75 percent increase, it is easy to see why we’re investing now.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “With news of this Remington facility expansion, we have yet another example of Huntsville fulfilling its economic development promise. Our workforce is among the best and brightest in the nation, and they deserve challenging career opportunities, along with the high quality of life Huntsville provides. We are thrilled to welcome Remington to our city and region.”
The Remington Outdoor Company (ROC) is expanding to the old Chrysler building in Huntsville creating over 2,000 new jobs within the next ten years. The 500,000-square-foot facility will increase Remington’s manufacturing space by approximately 25 percent.
Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong said, “Our pro-business environment, along with the region’s extensive manufacturing experience, helped us outmaneuver two dozen other states looking to attract Remington. This announcement represents new diversity to our local economy, and will provide an array of opportunities for skilled tradesmen, engineers and support personnel.”
Following the facility upgrades, Remington is expected to be operational in Alabama within the next 18 months. Recruiting high paying new jobs to Alabama has been the focus of Gov. Bentley since his election in 2010.
