Published On: 09.28.20 | 

By: 4250

Economic development projects expected to bring more than 500 jobs to Huntsville area

Dynetics is adding jobs in Huntsville as it works on a Human Lander System for NASA's Moon missions, as well as other projects. (Dynetics)

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber announced that new economic development projects will bring 510 new jobs and more than $71 million in investment to the community.

This eight companies undertaking the projects have expanded or located in the Huntsville metro area during 2020 but have not previously announced their growth plans.

“We want to celebrate every expansion, but this year it has been challenging to do that in a safe way,” said Lucia Cape, senior vice president of economic development for the chamber. “These companies are important to our community and to the people they employ, and we want to recognize their growth.”

Projects by companies expanding or locating in the Huntsville area include:

  • Dynetics is adding up to 200 jobs associated with weapon development work and has hired hundreds of people this year in support of the Human Landing System and other projects, bringing its local employment to 2,740.
  • Torch Technologies has had two recent expansion projects totaling 120 jobs and $32.3 million in investment. The first project was the construction of the Technology Integration and Prototyping Center, a two-story office space with an attached 10,000-square-foot high-bay facility.
  • Invariant Corporation, a Huntsville-based engineering services and software development company, is creating 23 jobs with investment of $430,000. The 92,000-square-foot facility should be complete by summer 2021.
  • Nippon Express USA is locating on the campus of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA. Within the next two years, Nippon Express, a logistics company, will hire 101 employees and invest $19.1 million.

Other companies that have added jobs and investment in the Huntsville area this year are AldezPalco, Ridgeview Industries and TriRx Pharmaceutical Services.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is making an additional $830 million investment in Alabama to incorporate cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to its production lines and provide enhanced training to its workforce of up to 4,000 employees in Huntsville. In addition, Nippon Express USA, a logistics company, announced it is locating on the Mazda Toyota campus. (Mazda Toyota Manufacturing)

$1 billion in 2020 projects

New projects, expansions and increased scope of previously announced projects in 2020 will generate 852 jobs and more than $1 billion in new capital investment in the Huntsville metro area, according to the chamber.

“With COVID-19, this has certainly been a challenging year, but in spite of all that is happening, Huntsville still continues to see job growth in all parts of our city,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Whether it’s Torch Technologies in south Huntsville, Dynetics in Cummings Research Park or TriRx in Chase Industrial Park, there are buildings going up and sites being delivered.

“When you combine that with the ongoing work at North Huntsville Industrial Park with Facebook and Toyota and the numerous projects at Mazda Toyota, it’s a remarkable statement to the resiliency of the Huntsville market and its industries,” he said.

Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong said officials in the county and Huntsville have continued to work to bring new and innovative businesses and industry to the community while supporting industry expansions.

“Our diverse economy continues to be robust year after year. With a focus on workforce development, the future of the Rocket City and Redstone Arsenal will continue to drive the economy of Alabama and southern Tennessee,” Strong said.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.