As reported by WHNT News, the Huntsville City Council has approved the Aerojet Rocketdyne expansion project.

Part of the project will involve the creation of an advanced manufacturing plant. Located in North Huntsville Industrial park, the plant will build propulsion engines for the SLS deep space rocket. Additionally, the new development will feature defense business headquarters and a rocket shop unit at Cummins Research Park.

The new project is worth an estimated $27 million and will employ over 700 people at a minimum salary of $80,000 per year.

Noting the obstacles that had to be overcome to land the deal, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “In the final stages, we competed with about five different states but early on it was about 12 different states across the Southeast.”

While the 700 new jobs are expected shortly, the project includes plans for expansion. That could attract over 1,200 new employees to the facility.