Rolls-Royce announces expansion at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi

Monday, 9 January 2012

(Stennis Space Center, Miss.) – Rolls-Royce North America is expanding operations and adding a second jet engine test stand at the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Miss. The project represents an investment of at least $50 million and will create 35 new jobs.

Currently, Rolls-Royce employs 45 workers at the Stennis Space Center.

“This new capital investment at our Stennis facility demonstrates the strong partnership we have with Governor Barbour and the state of Mississippi,” said James M. Guyette, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce North America. “Public-private partnerships such as this make it possible for us to invest in America and compete in a global economy,” he added. “America can compete. That’s why we are partnering and investing in several U.S. locations. We look forward to continuing our great partnership with the state of Mississippi.”

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour applauded the expansion, saying: “It is always a great testament to the strength of our state’s business climate and the quality of our workforce when an existing business chooses to expand in Mississippi. Rolls-Royce selected the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County as the site of its first engine test stand located outside the United Kingdom, and I am proud the company has again looked to Mississippi as a prime location for these sophisticated operations.”

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) helped facilitate the project by providing assistance for infrastructure improvements through the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, as well as assistance for construction and training activities through the Momentum Mississippi Incentives program. The agency also provided assistance for workforce training. Additionally, Hancock County is providing assistance for the project.

“I am thrilled Rolls-Royce is expanding its presence at the Stennis Space Center and constructing this new test stand in Mississippi,” said MDA Executive Director Leland Speed. “Rolls-Royce is a valued member of the Gulf Coast’s – and the entire state’s – corporate community, and I am grateful this leading company is continuing to invest in our state and create additional high-paying job opportunities for Mississippians.”

Headquartered in Reston, Va., Rolls-Royce North America opened its Outdoor Jet Engine Testing Facility at Stennis Space Center in 2007. The site is one of three such sites in the world, and it conducts specialist development engine testing including noise, crosswind, thrust reverse, cyclic and endurance testing on all current Rolls-Royce engine types. To learn more, visit About Rolls-Royce.

About Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.
As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
Annual underlying revenues were $17.8 billion in 2010, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at $101.3 billion at 30 June 2011, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
Globally, Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.
In 2010, Rolls-Royce invested $1.5 billion on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

About Mississippi Development Authority
Mississippi Development Authority is the State of Mississippi’s lead economic and community development agency. Nearly 300 employees are engaged in providing services to businesses, communities and workers in the state. While the agency is best known for its efforts to recruit new businesses to Mississippi, MDA provides services to promote tourism, help communities improve their quality of place, help existing employers identify and meet opportunities and challenges and help workers improve their skills – all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Mississippians. For more information, visit MDA’s website at www.mississippi.org.

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