The world’s largest gun manufacturer, Remington Arms, officially announced today it would expand and build a new plant in Huntsville, Ala., creating 2,000 new jobs.
Remington’s CEO George Kollitides said during a Monday press conference that Alabama’s strong support of the Second Amendment is something that his company has in common with the state.
"We undertook a very rigorous process," he said. Site selection factors such as workforce, quality of life, and economic climate all played a role in addition to the state’s support for gun rights.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said the pro-business attitude of the state, the cooperative spirit for business, and the strong support of the Second Amendment were deciding factors for Remington to come to Huntsville. He also said 24 states were vying for Remington’s new plant.
"Today’s announcement will create more than 2,000 jobs in Huntsville, and reflects a statewide capital investment of $110 million. Our relationship with Remington is just beginning, and I look forward to a continued partnership with the company," Bentley said.
Remington, which employs 1,200 workers at its Illion, N.Y.-based facility, has been searching for a new site for the past year, as previously reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
Yellowhammer News first reported Remington’s expansion over the weekend, citing unnamed sources. Critics of New York governor Andrew Cuomo cited his opposition to gun rights as a crimp in the state’s economy.
"Remington’s decision to locate 2K jobs in AL is another devastating blow to NY’s economy that is already failing under Governor Cuomo," Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino tweeted Sunday.
A Cuomo spokesman responded to critics who blasted the governor and his SAFE Act for driving jobs from New York.
"Some are misinformed, others gleefully spreading misinformation, but to be clear, no Remington jobs are leaving NY," tweeted Rich Azzopardi tweeted on Saturday night.
The union that represents most of the workers at Remington seemed to indicate otherwise and also criticized Cuomo and the SAFE Act. He said the decision was a bad sign for the New York plant.