Lockheed Martin on Tuesday signed an incentive agreement with the state of Alabama to support its production facility in Pike County.
The agreement will create new full-time positions at the facility and reinforce the company’s long-term commitment to the region’s skilled workforce and to meeting rising demand for munitions production, according to a Lockheed Martin news release.
Lockheed Martin plans to invest more than $150 million over the next five years.
Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations has grown significantly since opening in 1994 and has become a catalyst for southeast Alabama’s economy. The facility manufactures and supports hardware for major weapon and missile systems, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon system, Javelin missile, Hellfire missile, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.
The facility is in northern Pike County on about 3,800 acres and employs more than 800 people.
Since 2019, the facility has created more than 300 full-time jobs.
Governor Kay Ivey said Lockheed Martin has long been a pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry.
“Lockheed Martin has been a longtime pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry, and we are thrilled to see the company’s continued investment in our state,” Ivey said. “This latest expansion is a testament to the hard work of the highly skilled workforce in Pike County, and the innovative, Alabama-made products that keep turning heads on the global stage.”
Jen McManus, vice president of site production operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said the investment reflects strong partnerships across Alabama and the performance of the state’s workforce.
“This continued investment in Pike County Operations is a credit to the long history of partnership across every level of government within the state of Alabama, and more importantly, the phenomenal performance of the Alabama workforce that produces a quality product for our customers that perform when it matters most,” McManus said.
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said the state’s aerospace industry continues to grow because of companies like Lockheed Martin.
“Alabama’s aerospace industry continues its impressive growth trajectory, thanks to companies like Lockheed Martin that have set a standard of excellence in manufacturing products that are in high demand in markets around the world,” McNair said. “The success shows that the company’s strategic vision, an expert workforce and supportive community partnerships are a winning combination.”
Alabama Industrial Development Training, the state’s workforce development agency, has assisted Lockheed Martin’s Pike County operation for more than 30 years. In 2017, it opened a $2 million, 7,000-square-foot Advanced Training Center on the campus. According to the company, the center provides hands-on training to help build a workforce prepared to meet rising production demands.
In 2019, Lockheed Martin launched a program to train local high school students for career opportunities through hands-on classroom instruction. The program is now active in three local school systems and provides a pathway to STEM careers for students.
