Governor Spanberger, Avio USA Break Ground on $500 Million Manufacturing Facility in Pittsylvania Creating 1,500 Jobs

HURT, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger today joined Avio USA leadership for the formal groundbreaking of the company's new $500 million manufacturing facility in Pittsylvania County that is projected to create more than 1,500 new jobs for Virginians in the region.

In February, Governor Spanberger announced that Avio USA Inc. - a subsidiary of Italian aerospace company Avio S.p.A - would invest more than $500 million to build an approximately 900,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt. The facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense, tactical propulsion, missile systems, and the commercial space sector.

"I am thrilled to welcome Avio to Pittsylvania County and look forward to the opportunities this investment will create for generations of Virginians to come," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "This groundbreaking represents what is possible when an innovative company, a skilled workforce, and committed state and local partners come together with a shared vision. Avio's investment will create jobs, advance critical manufacturing capabilities, and reinforce Virginia's position as a premier destination for aerospace and defense industry growth."

"Avio USA is building more than a manufacturing facility in Virginia. We are building an American company and workforce that can bring Avio's proven propulsion expertise to the U.S. defense market," said James Syring, CEO of Avio USA. "Our goal is to be an independent, open-source merchant supplier, able to support multiple customers and programs and provide major defense primes with an additional source for this critical capability. That means more capacity, more competition and greater resilience in the American rocket motor supply chain. We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Town of Hurt, Pittsylvania County, the Department of War and our customers for their support."

"Today's celebration in Hurt reflects the many years of preparation that ensured Virginia had the prepared site, skilled workforce, and aerospace and defense expertise to attract Avio USA to Pittsylvania County," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. "This is also the continuation of a long-term partnership to ensure Avio USA's success in building out their manufacturing plant, hiring the talent they need, and leading a strategic U.S. presence from right here in the Commonwealth. Virginia is committed to being a stable and reliable partner along that journey."

Virginia secured the project through the combined efforts of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Pittsylvania County, the City of Danville, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and the General Assembly's Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission. The project will also be supported by the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, which Governor Spanberger recently celebrated for its fourth consecutive year as the nation's top customized workforce training program according to Business Facilities.

Governor Spanberger recently celebrated Virginia's rise to #3 in CNBC's "America's Top States for Business" rankings, reflecting a strong business climate that continues to attract industry-leading companies to the Commonwealth. During her Administration's first international economic trade mission in July, Governor Spanberger met with Avio leadership in Milan.

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