Press Releases

March 2019

General Atomics Increasing Production03/26/2019

Electromagnetic Systems Adding 75 Jobs in Shannon

Shannon, Miss. (March 26, 2019) – General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is increasing its manufacturing capacity in Shannon to accommodate the addition of a new product line. The project is a $50-million corporate investment and will create 75 jobs over five years. The expansion was announced during the 2019 International Homeland Defense and Security Summit Gov. Phil Bryant is hosting in Biloxi.

“We are a proud member of the community and look forward to expanding operations to provide game-changing technologies that will support our warfighters well into the future,” said Scott Forney, president of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. “This new manufacturing space and growth in workforce allows us to continue advancing design innovations from concept to prototype to full-scale production, while maintaining the highest quality, compliance and safety standards throughout the manufacturing process.”

General Atomics’ expansion, the 11th in 14 years, enables the company to increase some of its most advanced defense manufacturing operations in the U.S. This project will add a new 100,000 square-foot facility to General Atomics’ existing 552,000 square-feet of production space in the Tupelo Lee Industrial Park South in Shannon. The company’s last expansion was announced in March 2018 and involved a $20 million corporate investment and the addition of 48 jobs, as well as a 128,000 square-foot addition at the Shannon location.

“General Atomics is one of the most innovative companies in the world, and they have found success in building their most advanced and complex products right here in Lee County,” said Lee County Board of Supervisors President Tony Roper. “We are honored and excited about this expansion—it shows that General Atomics continues to place trust in both our people and our partnerships.”

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for the building expansion and workforce training. Lee County is providing assistance with property tax exemptions.

On behalf of the Community Development Foundation, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to General Atomics for choosing to continually expand and invest in our community by adding more and better jobs for our deserving citizens. We also want to express our deep appreciation to the Mississippi Development Authority and Governor Bryant for their continued support of this project,” said Community Development Foundation Chairman Jerry Maxcy.

Based in San Diego, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Division is a contractor for the U.S. Navy. Since locating in Mississippi in 2005, the company has invested approximately $100 million and created more than 300 jobs at its Shannon location.

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About General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group, a San Diego headquartered company, is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ history of research, development, and technology innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions supporting aviation, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

About the Community Development Foundation:

Founded in 1948, the Community Development Foundation (CDF) is the exclusive agency charged with providing chamber of commerce, economic development and planning and property management services for Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi. CDF is a nonprofit membership organization composed of civic, business, and professional leaders representing the region. CDF has been selected ten times as one of the top 10 industrial development agencies in the nation by Site Selection magazine, a leading trade magazine for industrial development consultants.

 

 

 

 

 

POSTED: 03.26.2019