RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Lockheed Martin will build and operate a computer-based modeling, simulation, and integration center in the City of Suffolk’s Bridgeway Commerce Park. Through a $30 million investment, Lockheed Martin will create 50 jobs with above-average salaries for the city and the region over a three-year period. Virginia successfully competed with other states for the project.
“New defense-related R&D investment is exactly the kind of economic development we are seeking,” said Governor Warner. “The new Suffolk facility will be a high-profile project, and I am pleased that Lockheed Martin has chosen to locate another facility in the Commonwealth.”
Lockheed Martin technical experts at the Global Vision Integration Center will collaborate with customers, industry partners, and colleagues across Lockheed Martin to develop, visualize, and demonstrate complex operational system solutions. Located on Interstate 664 near the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center and the U.S. Joint Forces Command Joint Warfighting and Experimentation Centers, Lockheed Martin’s new 50,000-square-foot, hexagon-shaped office building will become a new icon for high-technology development in the Commonwealth.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, and integration of advanced technology systems, products, and services. Lockheed Martin currently operates 124 facilities in Virginia, employing approximately 6,600 people.
“As a growing high technology hub with proximity to major defense, homeland security and other important customer installations, Suffolk is the ideal location for our new center,” said Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Officer Vance Coffman. “Collaboration with these customers is essential to our approach in developing network centric solutions, or systems that rely on integrated information and communication networks to improve operational effectiveness. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the City of Suffolk in establishing this world class facility to support efforts central to the security of our nation.”
Governor Warner approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to support the City of Suffolk with the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Suffolk assisted Lockheed Martin with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services. Since September 2001, Virginia companies with a few federal agencies in the defense and homeland security arena have announced more than 15,800 jobs and $505.8 million investment in the Commonwealth.
“The City of Suffolk is very excited and proud to receive the announcement that Lockheed Martin’s Global Vision Integration Center is coming to Northern Suffolk,” said Suffolk Mayor E. Dana Dickens, III. “This effort bears the fruit of new jobs, an expanded tax base and the potential attraction of other technology citizens which will only enhance our overall community. It speaks volumes to the quality of life that we have here in Suffolk.” With this announcement, Suffolk now boasts of $80 million in new capital investment in 2003.