Remington Arms Makes Alabama Official

The Remington Arms Company made it official today that they are indeed opening a new plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

Remington CEO George Kollitides called Huntsville "our new home" as he explained how important it is to partner with a state that believes in 2nd Amendment rights.

The story broke over the weekend that Huntsville had been chosen as part of Remington's expansion and the announcement would come on Monday.  Kollitides predicted that some 2000 jobs will be added to the new facility over the next decade.

The new plant is not expected to effect employment at Remington's Ilion facility.  Kollitides

did make one reference to their commitment to Remington's other plants across the

country, but made no direct reference to Ilion.

NY State Senator James Seward, in a statement released this morning, said the jobs in Ilion are safe.  "I have been assured that any out of state expansion will not affect Remington’s workforce in Ilion and the recent $20 million plant upgrade is proof of the company’s commitment to New York," said Seward.

Senator Seward and Assemblyman Marc Butler Statements to WIBX

Remington Arms has been continuously operating in Ilion, NY since 1816.

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Here is the Original Story Posted on Saturday-

News sources in Alabama reported on Saturday that an announcement will be made on Monday confirming that Remington Arms is building a new 500,000 square-foot plant in that state and the $87 (m) million dollar investment will mean about 2000 jobs.

Alabama's Yellowhammer,  Military Times and AL.com have reported that some of the jobs will be coming from Remington's birthplace, Ilion, where some 1300 jobs remain.

The Yellowhammer quotes an inside anonymous source at Remington who claims that the Ilion plant will remain open, but with a 'reduced workforce.'

A number of states have been courting Remington Arms, America's oldest gun maker,  since Governor Andrew Cuomo passed New York's Safe Act in January of last year.

Alabama's Governor Robert Bentley has been one of those Governor's looking to welcome the gun maker.  While the governor would not confirm Monday's Remington announcement in Huntsville, he did tell AL.com that, "I think Monday you'll see something very special in the state," Bentley said.

Following Governor Cuomo's comments about conservatives not being welcome in New York, Bentley made it clear that those on the right, including Remington, are clearly welcome.

Related Story:  Ilion Mayor Discusses Ilion's Commitment to Ilion, the birthplace of Remington

“In Alabama we strongly support and uphold our great U.S. Constitution on which our nation and our states were founded,” Bentley told Yellowhammer. “The Constitution serves to protect individual Freedoms. Among them are those guaranteed in the Second Amendment, which protects the right of the people to keep and bear Arms. We will protect the Freedoms of individuals and welcome any one or any company to Alabama to discover as so many have, that we are a pro-business state filled with good, hardworking people.”

There have been plenty of rumors about Remington's Ilion plant moving out of the state, especially over the last several months.  Congressman Richard Hanna has told WIBX on several occasions that Remington is doing well in Ilion.

"I have no reason to believe they are going anywhere," Hanna told First News with Keeler in the Morning recently.  Hanna was instrumental in securing a military contract with the Phillipines. Listen below to an interview with Keeler recently on the military contract.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who is rumored to be challenging Governor  

Cuomo for New York's top job in November, says that "Remington's decision to locate 2,000 jobs in Alabama is another devastating blow to New York's economy that is already failing under Governor Cuomo."

Astorino said under Cuomo, New York has the worst business climate in the nation.

"No matter how many millions Governor Cuomo spends trying to convince people New York is open for business, the truth is clear: we are a state that is losing," he added.

Check back for more details.  We'll be working on this story through the weekend and we will be focusing on the topic extensively on Monday mornings 'First News with Keeler in the Morning' from 6 - 9 a.m. on WIBX