A historic financial growth mission was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony in Harm on Tuesday morning, September 29.

Native officers from Pittsylvania County, the City of Harm, and the Metropolis of Danville gathered with Avio USA representatives, employees, and companions to mark the milestone, becoming a member of Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and different Virginia and U.S. authorities officers to ship remarks in regards to the significance of this funding, and rejoice what they seen as a serious win for each the area, and the Commonwealth of Virginia as an entire.

With its dad or mum firm headquartered close to Rome in Italy, Avio USA earlier this yr introduced an roughly $500 million funding to ascertain a roughly 860,000-square-foot manufacturing facility within the Southern Virginia Multimodel Park within the City of Harm. The power will produce strong rocket motors for protection, tactile propulsion, missile programs, and the business house sectors. The corporate is anticipated to create roughly 1,500 new jobs within the space. It is likely one of the largest financial growth initiatives within the area’s historical past.

The announcement was important not just for the area, however for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and can be of nationwide curiosity. Carrie Chenery, Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Commerce, described it as fulfilling the objective of bringing financial and group growth to each area of the Commonwealth.

Securing Avio for Virginia works as a part of the U.S.’s objective to revive home manufacturing and trade, and strengthen and diversify the availability chain, notably because it pertains to protection, stated Hung Cao, appearing U.S. Secretary of the Navy – statements echoed by different authorities officers and employees of each Avio and companion Lockheed Martin. The power aligns with nationwide safety pursuits.

Talks with Avio and an effort to influence the corporate to decide on Virginia for its U.S. department started round two years in the past, underneath the Youngkin administration. Earlier than her inauguration as governor, Spanberger stated this was one of many first issues Youngkin mentioned along with her through the transition. It remained a precedence throughout administrations, and has lastly come to fruition.

“At a time when the USA is concentrated on strengthening home provide chains and increasing our protection manufacturing capability, Virginia helps to cleared the path,” Spanberger stated. “By rising manufacturing right here at residence, we’re strengthening each our financial system and our nationwide safety, and it is smart that it’s taking place right here. 4 of the highest 5 aerospace and protection corporations on the Fortune 500 checklist have headquarters in Virginia. Virginia was the highest state for complete protection spending in fiscal yr 2024, with over $76 billion, and Virginia has the best focus of security-cleared expertise within the nation.”

The event additionally indicators a vote of confidence different industries can look to when choosing a spot to ascertain enterprise, Spanberger added.

Avio organising in Harm is especially significant for the small locality.

With a historical past of producing and trade, resembling the previous Burlington plant, city officers have been glad to see a revival of what was as soon as a spine to the small city’s financial system, and the area at giant. The lack of Klopman Mills hit the city’s financial system arduous, inflicting many roles to be misplaced.

“At present’s celebration demonstrates that communities with proud industrial histories can lead the subsequent era of superior manufacturing,” Spanberger stated.

Moreover, Gary Hodnett, mayor of the City of Harm, famous gunpowder was produced in Harm through the American Revolution. Bringing a producer within the protection sector is sort of a return to the city’s roots. City council members are hopeful Avio will assist elevate Harm out of its droop, as each the city and Pittsylvania County have prioritized financial growth within the space.

“At present, we renew that sacred legacy of defending the nation,” Hodnett stated. “With Avio’s world-class engineering and Harm’s unstoppable workforce, we’re going to forge the engines that defy gravity, push previous the horizon, and redefine what is feasible.”

Business and manufacturing stretched all the way down to Danville as effectively, making the historic announcement an financial win for the complete area within the eyes of its financial growth leaders and native elected officers.

A part of what made the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park marketable was its prepared entry to each rail transportation, and U.S. Freeway 29.

Native leaders hope the ability will open up job alternatives for locals, permitting extra folks to have the possibility to remain of their residence locality and make a residing. Applications in trades, superior manufacturing, and Accelerated Coaching in Protection Manufacturing (ATDM) are rising in recognition, and will function a pipeline to Avio and different producers.

Whereas synthetic intelligence has functionality to do many issues, Cao added, it can’t substitute hands-on manufacturing jobs. Thus, this pipeline and actual human expertise are wanted.

“Avio USA’s funding highlights why Virginia has remained a nationwide chief for the superior manufacturing and protection industries,” Chenery stated in a information launch asserting the event in February of 2026. “Pittsylvania County’s ready websites, expert workforce, and robust regional partnerships made a mission of this scale attainable. Collectively, Avio USA, Pittsylvania County, and the Commonwealth of Virginia will proceed to strengthen our nation’s protection industries.”

Audio system emphasised the partnerships that made the mission a actuality, citing collaboration between “the Virginia Financial Growth Partnership, the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Pittsylvania County, the Metropolis of Danville, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, the Virginia Tobacco Area Revitalization Fee, and the Normal Meeting’s Main Employment and Funding Undertaking Approval Fee,” in response to a information launch from the governor’s workplace.

Spanberger moreover stated the mission shall be supported by the Virginia Expertise Accelerator Program, which is in its fourth consecutive yr.