CAMDEN — The recent groundbreaking for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s continuing expansion in Camden was more than just a ceremony. It symbolized the solid nature of the company’s presence in and contribution to our community and its economy.
As importantly, the company announced that the expansion, a 17,000 square-foot engineering, manufacturing and development center set to open in spring 2020, serves as a developmental gateway to future Aerojet Rocketdyne large solid rocket motor product opportunities.
That is certainly good news for us now and, as the Aerojet Rocketdyne’s announcement said, opportunities in the future.
Various speakers at the event described the company’s significant contribution to the area and the importance of continuing efforts to expand our local economy.
The premier status of the expanded facility was reflected in remarks that Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s CEO and president, said in a news release, stating that it will be “will be the newest and most modern rocket development facility in the nation.”
The news release, with Drake saying the company’s “longstanding partnership with the great state of Arkansas” continues to produce “impressive results,” stated that Aerojet Rocketdyne has had a presence in Arkansas since 1979 and its current 800-person workforce manufactures 75,000 solid rocket motors annually.
In August, Aerojet Rocketdyne announced plans to further grow the workforce to 900 over the next three years.
That is an impressive partnership and along with expressing gratitude to Aerojet Rocketdyne for its contributions past, present and future to the stability and vibrancy of our community, we thank the valued members of the area’s workforce with employees who have long- established us as a talented and dependable place for the defense industry to do business.
Congratulations to our local and state economic development offices, along with the governor’s office and elected officials, for their unceasing work in maintaining and expanding our industrial base.
It’s been said before, but we say it again. When it comes to the economy here, it is rocket science.