Lockheed Martin Could Add 3,000 Jobs Thanks To New Law: Kemp

MARIETTA, GA — A new bill signed into law this year could bring 3,000 jobs and up to $1.6 billion in investment to Marietta's Lockheed Martin facility over the next several years, Gov. Brian Kemp said during his visit to the plant Thursday.

Kemp also said the bill could add 22,000 jobs across the state. The 19,000 non-Lockheed jobs are "indirect and induced jobs," which means they are "created by other companies as a result of [Lockheed's] growth," Lockheed officials said.

Senate Bill 6, also called the tax incentive bill, was signed into law earlier this year, allowing the state to review special-interest tax breaks to make sure they do what they're designed to do: create or save jobs. It also creates a tax credit for "high-impact aerospace defense projects," designed with Lockheed Martin in mind — making it more competitive when bidding on U.S. Department of Defense contracts, officials said.

“This is something that specifically was major enough and would have enough economic impact that was one of the things we could certainly support,” Kemp said. “It helps us compete to get those contracts. And the economic impact that comes back, and the residuals you get off that from other manufacturing and residual jobs, is incredible.”

Lockheed Martin is aiming to win contracts to build the next generation of military jets at the Marietta facility, which employs about 4,700 people as of publication. Earlier this week, Lockheed Martin secured a five-year, $329 million contract with the Indian Air Force to maintain its C-130 aircraft fleet.

Additionally, Lockheed officials said the new law helps in expanding the company's "Skunk Works" programs, which are almost all classified and focus on futuristic aircraft and technologies, according to Lockheed's website.

Lockheed Martin first opened in 1943 in Marietta — originally as The Bell Bomber plant and added about 150 jobs so far this year. It builds C-130 and C-130J military transport planes, as well as center wing assemblies for F-35 Lightning fighter jets.