Tampa Brass & Aluminum is putting $58 million into its Hillsborough County headquarters after a run of new military contracts created the need for more equipment, more workers and more room to produce for the U.S. Air Force and Navy.
The Tampa manufacturer plans to add 50 jobs averaging $83,200, with openings for non-destructive testing technicians, welding inspectors, quality-control inspectors and nuclear engineering technicians.
The money will go into machinery and equipment used in a business that takes raw material through finished production of missiles, submarine components and other mission-critical defense products. Tampa Brass & Aluminum also handles precision machining, fabrication, non-destructive testing and quality assurance.
The company also considered Amarillo, Texas, before choosing Hillsborough County for the investment. Tampa Brass & Aluminum said the region’s talent pipeline and quality of life helped tip the decision.
The company did not disclose the value of the military contracts behind the expansion, identify customers beyond the Air Force and Navy or give a timeline for completing the $58 million investment.
“Tampa gave us everything we need to build the next chapter of this company — a skilled workforce, a strong manufacturing base and a community that backs advanced industry,” President Aubrey Greene said. “This investment is a commitment to Hillsborough County and to the service members who depend on the products we deliver to our armed forces.”
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council supported the expansion with market analysis and convened regional partners to address utility sales tax exemptions and power upgrades.
The EDC also worked with regional partners on Quick Response Training grants and plans for an apprenticeship training center, although the announcement did not say how much assistance the company could receive or provide details about the training center.