PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced that Avio USA Inc. will invest approximately $500 million to build an 860,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt.

The Pittsylvania County facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense, tactical propulsion, missile systems and commercial space sectors, according to a news release.

The project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs in Southside Virginia through a major custom investment incentive partnership with the Commonwealth.

“Avio USA’s historic investment in Pittsylvania County represents a major win for Southern Virginia, for the Commonwealth, and for our national security,” Gov. Spanberger said. “By investing more than $500 million in Pittsylvania County, Avio USA will create over 1,000 high-quality jobs and revitalize domestic production of critical defense technologies. Virginia is proud to support this project and the talented workforce that powers the Commonwealth’s resilient defense industrial base.”

VADM (Ret.) James Syring, CEO of Avio USA, said the company is expanding its manufacturing footprint to support national defense priorities.

“With more than a century of propulsion leadership, Avio’s proven capabilities, industrial expertise, and enduring legacy uniquely position us to strengthen and scale the U.S. defense industrial base. I am confident that we have made the right choice with our selection of the Commonwealth and Pittsylvania County for our factory location given the complete local, regional, and state support we’ve received, including a business-friendly climate, a best-in-class Virginia Talent Accelerator offering, and competitive custom investment incentives. We are proud to support our U.S. government and defense customers by accelerating solid rocket motor production at the speed and capacity required to meet today’s national security priorities,” Syring said.

Avio S.p.A., founded in 1912 and headquartered near Rome, Italy, designs and produces space launch systems and propulsion components, the release said.

The company established Avio USA Inc. in Arlington in 2022 to focus on the North American market.

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