Q: What will be the total dollar investment for the expanded facility in terms of site access, preparation, and facility construction?
A: Originally slated to occupy 39,000 square feet, the facility will now occupy more than 105,000 square feet. The total investment including road, utility, site preparation, and facility construction, will total 17.5 million. $2 million of which has been off- set through federal Economic Development Administration and state Mississippi Development Authority grant sources.
Q: What will be Northrop Grumman's investment for equipment and tooling?
A: The Company estimates that the expanded Unmanned Systems Center will require a total capital investment in excess of $4.1million.
Q: How will the construction for the facility be financed?
A: The Port and the County will issue public general obligation bonds to finance the project obligations.
Q: What are some of the key provisions of the lease agreement between Northrop Grumman and the County, including length of the lease and annual lease payments.
A: Yearly lease payments will be sufficient to amortize the actual project costs over a 15 year term based on the County's General Obligation Bond Financing. The initial lease term will be for 10 years. Northrop Grumman reserves the option to partially cancel as to either, but not both the Fire Scout Premises or the Global Hawk Premises at any time after the seventh (7th) year of the initial lease term.
Q: When will construction start? When will the facilities become operational?
A: Road, utility, and site preparation were initiated in June of 2004 with the announcement of the initial phase of the Unmanned Systems Center. The Combined Facility will be ready for pre-completion occupancy not later than December 1, 2005, and will be substantially completed not later than January 1, 2006.
Q: Who is the prime contractor for the construction and what is the dollar amount of the contract?
A: The Prime contractor for the main package is Ben M. Radcliff Contractor, inc. The award will be for $13,000,000.
Q: Why types of jobs (skill levels) will be created?
A: The facility will employ up to 160 high-technology manufacturing jobs. Specific skill sets will include technicians, mechanics, engineers, management, administration and information technologists.
