Ammunition manufacturer Advanced Munitions International (AMI) will build a global headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Partnership Park, Alcoa, TN.
AMI will invest $553 million in a new campus for its high-end ammunition manufacturing, distribution and R&D operations, creating 605 new jobs. The company expects to break ground on the 235-acre site this spring and to open in the fourth quarter of 2018. Company executives cited the proximity and resources of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as a deciding factor in choosing to locate in Tennessee.
“When we looked nationally for a site to build this facility, Tennessee stood out as a place with leaders that understand and support strong business growth,” said Jim Antich, AMI founder and executive chairman. “Having a resource like ORNL nearby also attracted us to Tennessee and Blount County. We are looking forward to a long relationship with Tennessee and to working with our new neighbors.”
“AMI officials visited the lab during the recruitment process, and we are excited that they have chosen to call East Tennessee home,” said Jeff Smith, deputy director for operations at ORNL. “ORNL has resources to offer any company dealing in advanced materials, and we are looking forward to a long partnership with AMI as well as calling them neighbors.”
AMI is known in the firearms industry for its HPR Ammunition brand, a specially formulated ammunition that employs proprietary technology. The company supplies ammunition to the military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. The Alcoa plant will hire primarily chemists and engineers with backgrounds in metallurgy, engineering, physics and energetics technology.
State and local leaders in Blount County praised AMI’s decision to locate in Alcoa, echoing expectations of a long-term working relationship.
“The East Tennessee region has terrific resources for companies that need access to institutions with R&D to commercialize and employees with high-tech skills,” said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. “Tennessee has a long history of manufacturing excellence that fits perfectly with AMI’s needs. I want to thank AMI for choosing Tennessee and for the jobs they will create.”
“We welcome AMI to Blount County and celebrate the fact that this announcement brings our jobs and capital investment total this year to 1720 and $982 million, respectively,” added Blount Count Industrial Development Board Chair Fred Lawson. “But going back five years, Blount County has seen nearly 4,000 jobs and over $1.4 billion of capital investment come into this community, making it one of the most successful areas of development in the country.”
