Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and several other dignitaries representing Alabama's business-friendly community and leadership came together yesterday to help break ground on Special Aerospace Services' (SAS) new facility in Cummings Research Park in Huntsville.

Gov. Ivey praised SAS as "a valuable addition to the dynamic roster of nimble and highly competent aerospace businesses in Alabama's 'Rocket City.' I know that SAS will find a welcoming home in Huntsville, where it can harness the technical know-how and leverage the partnerships it needs to grow and thrive."

According to Heather Bulk, SAS' co-founder, president, and CEO, "We are having a very different and positive experience as a small business in Alabama. The community is pro-business, moving at the speed of industry and finding every opportunity to support SAS in our exciting expansion. When you have a governor and a legislature that work every day to encourage new and innovative businesses to open their doors and expand into the state, it's good for everyone."

The move is part of SAS' expansion strategy that will expedite its strategic, tactical, manufacturing, logistics, and R&D activities.

Specifics about the new SAS facility

- The expansion is part of SAS' expansion strategy that will expedite its strategic, tactical, manufacturing, logistics, and R&D activities.

- The new facility -- called "The Campus" -- is a 55,000 square foot federal services, research, and special activities branch.

- It will encompass an engineering and training space, high bay assembly, advanced manufacturing, and research bays.

- The eventual phased development of The Campus will encompass up to two major buildings and 30 high technology jobs.

- The Cummings Research Park is the fourth largest research park in the world and the second largest in the U.S.

SAS delivers a seamless workflow between their engineers and manufacturing teams by providing a full-cycle solution portfolio that includes tactical engineering support in propulsion, avionics, systems, safety, and launch site integration, as well as rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and procurement of mission-critical aerospace hardware. SAS strategic partners include NASA, DoD, and many commercial space providers. SAS is also the parent company of SAS Flight Factory Services, an AS9100D-certified and vertically integrated division designed to address the critical and immediate needs of its clients.