Governor Hutchinson Shares Details of Amend. 82 Project Bringing 600 Jobs to Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, AR (Press Release) – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today he is calling a special session for state legislators to consider $87.1 million in general obligation bonds under the authority of Amendment 82. The financing will go toward a Lockheed Martin manufacturing facility in East Camden that would produce the company's new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) developed by the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps. Lockheed Martin is one of three companies under consideration for the contract to manufacture the JLTV. A decision from the Pentagon is expected in July 2015. The JLTV will replace the Humvee, which has been used by the military since 1985.
Should Lockheed Martin win the contract, the company plans to invest more than $125 million in the East Camden facility. Approximately 600 new full-time positions will be created at the facility and as many as 655 indirect jobs will be created in South Arkansas as a result of this project.
Governor Hutchinson was joined by Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton and Rep. Bruce Westerman at a news conference today at the State Capitol to discuss the project.