News

American Eurocopter plans major expansion in Mississippi

July 12, 2006— TVA Economic Development recently worked with state and local officials in Mississippi to help secure a project that will result in a major expansion of American Eurocopter Corporation’s aerospace manufacturing and assembly facilities in Columbus, Mississippi.

American Eurocopter was awarded a $2.2-billion, 10-year contract to build a fleet of military helicopters at a new facility that will be located near its existing 92,200-square-foot plant, which opened in October 2004.

Construction is expected to start in September on a 184,000-square-foot, $30-million assembly plant that will triple the size of the company's facilities in Columbus. The expansion will add more than 250 workers to the helicopter manufacturer’s payroll.

American Eurocopter is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter, the world’s largest manufacturer of helicopters.

“Lowndes County is greatly excited about the announcement of the American Eurocopter expansion,” says Joe Max Higgins, chief executive officer of the Columbus Lowndes Development Link, a local economic-development agency. “Not only does that represent our growing, successful, strong economy, it also tells a patriotic story. Columbus and Lowndes County through Columbus Air Force Base and other defense-related industries are truly defending America’s future.”

TVA also worked initially with local and state representatives to recruit American Eurocopter to Northeast Mississippi. TVA helped provide financial assistance as well as technical and engineering support to the company.