11/09/2009
Louisiana's Top Private-Sector Employer Opens Slidell Facility
Northrop Grumman expansion allowed company to
retain 35 jobs, create 40 new high-tech jobs and generate 31
indirect jobs
SLIDELL, La. -- Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal applauded the grand
opening of Northrop Grumman's new 20,000-square-foot facility in
Slidell, La. The new facility combined Northrop Grumman's Slidell
office and Stennis Space Center operations, representing a $4
million capital investment.
This project retained 35 jobs from the Slidell office, created
40 new high-tech jobs at an average annual salary of $47,000, plus
benefits, and will generate approximately 31 indirect jobs. In
addition, this project is expected to generate nearly $1.7 million
in new, state tax revenues and nearly $1.2 million in new, local
tax revenues from 2009 to 2018.
"Expanding and retaining Louisiana's existing companies is our
top economic priority, and today's milestone is another reminder
that our efforts are working," said Gov. Jindal. "It is also a
reminder that, despite the recession, companies have continued
expanding and investing in Louisiana."
"The grand opening of Northrop Grumman's Slidell campus not only
represents a significant addition to the local business community,
but also our commitment to bring cutting-edge innovation to the
area," said John Olesak, Northrop Grumman vice president for
geospatial intelligence. "The capabilities available through this
new facility, including Light Detection and Ranging, are at the
forefront of the geospatial industry and are shaping the technology
available now, and in the future."
Louisiana Economic Development worked closely with the St.
Tammany Economic Development Foundation, or STEDF, to ensure that
Northrop Grumman selected Slidell for this project. Moreover, LED's
Quality Jobs Program helped convince Northrop Grumman to expand in
Slidell and the company will take advantage of the program.
"We are excited about the positive, long-term economic impact
that this will have in St. Tammany Parish," said Brenda
Reine-Bertus, executive director of the STEDF. "The high-tech jobs
that Northrop Grumman's expansion offers are a perfect match for
our highly skilled workforce. These are the types of jobs that we
will continue targeting and attracting to this community."
As a Light Detection and Ranging Center of Excellence, the
Slidell facility will broaden the company's scope of capabilities
throughout Louisiana. The site will support terrestrial elevation,
watershed, flood, bare earth and surface modeling, volumetric and
permeability solutions, and feature extraction data.
Northrop Grumman acquired 3001 International Inc. in October
2008. With this acquisition, Northrop Grumman now provides full
end-to-end geospatial capabilities, including airborne imaging,
surveying, mapping and geographic information systems for domestic
and international government intelligence, defense and civilian
customers.
Northrop Grumman is the largest private-sector employer in
Louisiana, employing approximately 5,900 employees at six locations
throughout the state. It is a leading global company, whose 120,000
employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in
aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and
technical services to government and commercial customers
worldwide.
