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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Orbital ATK Expands Chandler, Arizona, Production Facility

03/29/2018
Orbital ATK, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense technology firms, reported it is expanding the company’s launch vehicles operations and manufacturing center onto a new campus in Chandler, Arizona.

With the expansion, Orbital ATK will occupy 617,000 square feet in two buildings on a 47-acre campus. Manufacturing space will account for 261,000 square feet.

Rich Straka, Vice President & General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division, said he is looking forward to expanding the company’s business in Chandler.

“The launch vehicles we design and manufacture here are instrumental in providing cargo to the crews on the International Space Station, space and earth science, and in defending the nation. We appreciate the State of Arizona and City of Chandler for providing support that enables Orbital ATK to continue to execute on these vital programs for our country,” he said.

According to state officials, with additional facilities in Arizona, Orbital ATK’s total footprint in the state is more than 892,000 square feet, directly supporting more than 2,200 high-tech and high-paying aerospace and defense jobs with a total payroll of more than $170 million in Arizona.

Chandler City Council approved a resolution and rezoning to support the development of the new Orbital ATK campus at Willis Road along Chandler’s Price Corridor, known for being home to leading edge companies focused on advanced business services, aerospace, life sciences, sustainable and high technology research and manufacturing.

Orbital ATK’s new campus is a result of recent growth as well as projected future work, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority. In 2017, Orbital ATK hired 250 employees at its Chandler facility. The company has plans to fill 200 open positions and eventually expand its Chandler workforce by another 50 employees over the next year and a half.

“This latest expansion of Orbital ATK’s Chandler operation is a testament to the quality of Arizona’s talent and the ideal operating environment our state provides for aerospace and defense industry leaders,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “We are thrilled that Orbital ATK continues to grow in Arizona and we thank the company for this significant investment.”

“The growth of Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles division into this new, state-of-the-art campus is exciting news for the company and for our state,” said Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President & CEO. “This project will further advance Arizona’s reputation as a national leader in aerospace and defense.”

Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said, "Orbital ATK has long been an anchor on the Price Corridor and a vital contributor to Chandler's reputation as the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest. We have seen a number of Chandler companies expand their workforces this past year, and these new, high-level engineering jobs will have a tremendous impact to the region as Orbital ATK continues its strong investment in Chandler."

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