Today Avio USA Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future 860,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt. The project is a $500 million investment that will create more than 1,500 new jobs in Pittsylvania County.

The new facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense, tactile propulsion, missile systems, and the commercial space sectors. Avio USA is a subsidiary of leading global aerospace company Avio S.p.A.

During the ceremony, Governor Abigail Spanberger gave some of the back story of the Avio deal.

U.S. Congressman John McGuire also spoke during the ceremony.

Founded in 1912 and headquartered near Rome, Italy, Avio S.p.A. specializes in the design, development, and production of space launch systems and propulsion components. In 2022, the company established Avio USA Inc. in Arlington, Virginia, to focus on the rapidly growing North American market. The international company has presence in Italy, France, the United States, and French Guiana.