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Stark celebrates grand opening |
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Tuesday, 17 November 2009 |
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By Davida Hill-Beckum
Daily Times Leader
United States Armed Forces will soon receive assistance from spy equipment manufactured in the Golden Triangle.
Stark Aerospace held the the grand opening celebration of its new 88,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Columbus yesterday. Representative Greg Harper congratulated Stark Aerospace on the new facility, calling the Golden Triangle a “special area.”
“This is a special area to me,” Harper said. “I am pleased with Stark's commitment to the Golden Triangle and its continued growth and development.”
Robert “Doc” Foglesong, who serves on the Stark Aerospace Board of Directors, served as Master of Ceremony for the ribbon-cutting program. Foglesong said it would be inappropriate for him to not say anything about Stark Aerospace.
“Stark is making a difference in the community,” Foglesong said. “A year ago, they employed less than 25 people. Today, they employ more than 75. A year ago, their revenue was less than $4 million. Today it is more than $40 million. The numbers speak for themselves.”
Stark Aerospace, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., manufactures unmanned aerial systems. They currently manufacture the Hunter MQ-5B for the U.S. Army. It has been used in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror. Stark is currently expanding its UAS flight operations and facilities to meet increased demand in the American market.
“Employees, when you go to sleep at night know that what you are doing saves American lives,” said Harper.
Gray Swoope, executive director for the Mississippi Development Authority, encouraged members of the Stark Aerospace Board of Directors to continue to look internationally.
“If we are going to recover from this economic recession, we must continue to look internationally for jobs,” Swoope said. “We can't think small and say, 'we are going to pull back'. We must look forward. Many of our jobs and are from international companies.”
Representative Travis Childers agreed with Swoope, while expressing gratitude regarding Stark Aerospace decision to locate to this region.
“I am extremely pleased to have a company like Stark Aerospace in Mississippi's First Congressional District,” Childers said. “The new facility in Columbus will build on Stark's legacy of creating good-paying, high-tech jobs that we need here in North Mississippi.”
Stark Aerospace was established in 2006 at Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Lab in Starkville and a second division was added in 2007 in Columbus. Construction is underway for an expansion expected to be complete January 2010.
“With the construction of this new facility, Stark Aerospace is further demonstrating its commitment to doing business in Mississippi,” said Gov. Haley Barbour. “I commend the company for the additional jobs they are creating here in the Golden Triangle area and the contributions their operations are making to this community, the state and to our nation's defense.”
Yair Shamir, chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries Board, promised the region Stark Aerospace is here to stay.
“When I spoke to you in September 2007 at the previous ceremony, I told you we had come to stay,” Shamir said. “Here we are a little over two years later celebrating the grand opening of another facility.”
No elected officials from West Point or Clay County attended the event, with the exception of Rep. David Gibbs.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 )
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