Aircraft development facility could create 1,800 jobs and $500 million capital investment

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company, could create up to 1,800 jobs and a $500 million capital investment in Brevard County. The jobs will stem from additional expansion at the company’s campus in Melbourne. The new jobs are in addition to recent announcements for a Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence in Melbourne and an Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine.

Governor Scott said, “This is a huge victory for families on the Space Coast. We are excited that Northrop Grumman has decided to expand here in Florida, which could bring up to 1,800 new jobs to Brevard County. We’ve worked to grow jobs and opportunities for Florida families by cutting taxes, paying down debt and cutting government waste – and this announcement is a testament to our success in creating an opportunity economy. This is a huge win, and we’ll continue to build on this success with our recently completed legislative session where we cut $500 million in taxes and fees and made higher education more affordable for every family. These victories will attract more-and-more businesses to the Sunshine State. We must continue to grow our opportunity economy so that companies like Northrop Grumman can continue to create jobs for Florida families.”   

The expansion will occur in multiple phases. The first phase will begin with the construction of a new 220,000 square foot office building and the addition of 300 jobs. Potential follow-on phases include construction of additional facilities totaling 500,000 square feet and 1,500 additional jobs.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the support we’ve received from the state of Florida and the local community in our continuing effort to drive our affordability and competitive position,” said Tom Vice, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president, Aerospace Systems. “This expansion further cements our strong partnership with Florida, and will greatly benefit our employees, customers, and shareholders.”

Virtually every major defense contractor from the U.S. and abroad has significant operations in Florida. Florida offers 22 airports with runways of 10,000+ feet, two spaceports and launch/landing facilities that support a full range of aviation & aerospace industry activities, from R&D to testing to service. More than 61,000 military and 24,000 civilian personnel, veterans, pilots and engineers are part of the state’s flexible talent pool.  

The project would not have been possible without a strong partnership at the state and local levels. Partners that helped make the project a success included Enterprise Florida, Brevard County, City of Melbourne, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Florida Power & Light, Space Florida, CareerSource Florida, Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

As part of the project, CareerSource Florida has offered Northrop Grumman performance-based partial reimbursement grants for employee training through the Quick Response Training (QRT) program. QRT grants are structured to be flexible and responsive to the training needs of new or expanding businesses.

“This major project will provide high-wage employment and career-growth opportunities for hundreds of Floridians over the next five years, creating a significant economic impact on Melbourne and the entire state,” said Chris Hart IV, president & CEO, CareerSource Florida. “The shared investment in training supports both the creation and retention of jobs in our state and will help assure Northrop Grumman’s global competitiveness now and into the future.”

Gray Swoope, Florida Secretary of Commerce, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. said, “We are excited to once again partner with Northrop Grumman to bring jobs to Florida, and we thank them for their willingness to make such a large investment in our state. This highly competitive project was more than two years in the making, and is a result of strong partnerships between the company, Governor Scott, the Legislature, our state and local partners, and the site consultant professionals at McCallum Sweeney. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing these 1,800 new jobs and $500 million in capital to the state, and thank you to Northrop Grumman for their continued trust in Florida. ”

Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said, “It is another great day for Florida’s growing economy. Northrop Grumman’s announcement that it will add 1,800 jobs and invest $500 million in Melbourne is further proof that Florida is competing for, and winning, the confidence and investment of the nation’s job creators. As Florida’s nation-leading economic turnaround demonstrates, good policy makes a difference—and Governor Scott’s unrelenting focus on implementing pro-growth policies has resulted in another win for Florida families.”

Frank DiBello, President & CEO, Space Florida said, “Space Florida is pleased to have enabled this important project reflective of a new era for the growth of the aerospace industry in Florida and for the region. This project is part of a much larger consolidation of the aerospace industry across the country – one that Florida is well positioned to serve as a desired location for, and that we are actively pursuing. We are proud that Northrop Grumman has selected Florida for its next-gen programs."

Ananth Prasad, Secretary, Florida Department of Transportation said, “We are pleased to partner with Melbourne International Airport for funding to move an existing road on property which will allow Northrop Grumman to locate its new manufacturing facility at the airport. The new facility will create 1,800 jobs for Florida families and help keep Florida’s aviation manufacturing industry growing.”

Eric Silagy, President, Florida Power & Light Company and Chair, Florida Chamber of Commerce said, “Northrop Grumman’s announcement of their expanded presence in Brevard County speaks volumes about Florida’s business-oriented climate.  With advanced infrastructure, affordable and reliable power, and a highly-skilled, diverse workforce, Florida continues to demonstrate its leadership in not only the growing aerospace industry, but other high-tech disciplines.  This expansion shows what can be achieved when state and local leaders work hand in hand to create economic opportunities for businesses in the Sunshine State.”

Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan said, "This partnership is an investment in improving and sustaining a high quality of life in the City of Melbourne and Brevard County. In addition to bringing up to 1,800 new high-wage jobs to our community, this large expansion of Northrop Grumman demonstrates the City's business-friendly ability to attract corporate investment to Melbourne in a highly competitive economic development environment."

Brevard County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mary Bolin Lewis said, “Brevard County has had a long-standing relationship with the aerospace industry, and this latest announcement means we’ll continue that relationship for many years to come. Our reputation is that we expect and deliver big things, and we have the know-how and the available work force to take on these great challenges and achieve success at the highest levels.  We welcome this news today with open arms.”

Lynda Weatherman, President & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast said, “This project is a game changer. Both the number of jobs and the average wage make it not only the largest project ever done in Brevard County, but also among the most significant in the entire country. While the EDC played an instrumental role in moving this project to a successful conclusion, the outcome would not have been possible without Governor Scott and the support of his economic development team.”

William “Bill” Potter, Chairman, Melbourne Airport Authority said, "The Airport Authority is delighted that this complex project has come to fruition.  We are extremely grateful to Northrop Grummanfor its decision to make this very substantial investment in our community.  We are also grateful to all of those organizations and individuals who have worked diligently and positively to bring together the resources to achieve this success.  The Airport Authority is proud that its staff has been an essential part of the team that has brought this about.  From the Governor, to the Department of Economic Opportunity, to Spaceport Florida, to Brevard County, to the City of Melbourne and to the Economic Development Commission, we extend our appreciation for the manner in which we have been able to work together to bring about this extraordinarily important accomplishment for our community." 

Richard E. Ennis, Executive Director, Melbourne International Airport said, “Melbourne International Airport is bursting its buttons with pride to welcomeNorthrop Grumman.  To attract corporations of the caliber of Northrop Grumman is a feather in the cap of this community.  We are Space Coast Proud.”

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Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  EFI facilitates job growth for Florida businesses through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses.