Joined by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd, Jim Antich, founder and executive chairman of Advanced Munitions International LLC (AMI), and Mark Kresser, President & CEO of AMI, announced that AMI is investing $553.6 million to build a global headquarters and state-of-the-art munitions manufacturing facility in Alcoa, Tennessee. The single largest business expansion in the firearms industry in recent history, the new facility is expected to create over 600 new jobs.
Advanced Munitions International LLC, formally known as Advanced Tactical Armament Concepts (ATAC), which will manufacture products for the following brands BlackOps, Emcon and HPR Ammunition, expects to break ground this spring on the 300,000-square foot facility to be located on a 235-acre site in Alcoa’s Partnership Park. AMI plans to open in the fourth quarter of 2018 with company executives citing the proximity and resources of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a deciding factor in choosing Tennessee as home for their manufacturing, distribution and R&D operations.
“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 Antich. “Having a resource like Oak Ridge National Laboratory 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’s Alcoa plant will hire primarily chemists and engineers with backgrounds in metallurgy, engineering, physics and energetics technology.
