Federal and state leaders converged Friday in Cherokee, Alabama to mark the opening of a massive new defense manufacturing facility, a project expected to transform Northwest Alabama into a key hub for U.S. naval production.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park on the site of a former railcar manufacturing facility, drew a crowd of military officials, elected leaders, industry partners and community members.

The 2.2-million-square-foot facility will anchor shipbuilding and maritime production tied to the U.S. Navy.

“This is about that kick-ass Alabama spirit,” said Chris Power, founder and CEO of Hadrian. “We’re betting on the people of this state to step up and deliver when it matters most.”

Hadrian, an advanced manufacturing company focused on precision components for defense and aerospace, is partnering with the U.S. Navy on the project.

The facility, known as Factory 4, will mass-produce critical submarine components supporting both Columbia- and Virginia-class programs, helping address long-standing production bottlenecks in the maritime industrial base.

According to company officials, the facility will utilize Hadrian’s AI-powered manufacturing platform to streamline production, reduce supply chain bottlenecks and operate more efficiently than traditional defense manufacturing systems.

“We are done with free money in the Department of the Navy to the defense primes industry”, said Power. “The president directed us to move faster. Congress has cleared a path, the Navy has set the requirement, and today Hadrian is setting the foundation to deliver that capacity to the workers who will fill this facility. You are not just building parts, you’re building the submarines that underpin our nuclear deterrent and our most survivable nuclear deterrent.”

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) U.S. Rep Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside state and local leaders.

The project represents a more than $2.4 billion public-private investment, combining over $1.5 billion in private capital with $900 million in federal funding, and is part of a broader effort to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity.

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan highlighted the project’s role in rebuilding America’s industrial capacity and military readiness.

“This is not just another factory. This is a different model,” Phelan said. 

“This is not just an investment in infrastructure. It is an investment in the American worker in Alabama communities and in the future of American security. This is how we begin restoring the industrial base and it returns in service of the American taxpayer and maritime dominance. This is what the Golden Fleet looks like in execution,” he said.

The project revives a long-dormant industrial site, previously home to FreightCar America before its closure in 2021, and positions the Shoals as an emerging center for advanced manufacturing tied to national defense.

Rep. Aderholt, whose district includes the Shoals, called the project a long-awaited milestone after years of effort to redevelop the vacant site.

“We are opening a factory of the future,” Aderholt said. “The Shoals is ready, and this facility shows what’s possible when you invest in communities that are willing to compete and win.”

The facility is expected to create up to 1,000 high-quality jobs and reach full production capacity within about two years. Officials say its highly automated systems will allow workers to be trained and production-ready in as little as 30 days, significantly faster than traditional defense manufacturing.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Rogers warned that the U.S. must rebuild its defense base to meet growing global threats.

“We were at a dangerously low level of defense spending,” Rogers said. “We’re at the beginning of a process to rebuild our defense industrial base, and it’s going to take partners like this to get us where we need to be.”

Sen. Tuberville emphasized both the strategic and economic significance of the project.

“They’re going to be building submarines in Alabama, on a river,” Tuberville said. 

“The economy here will boom.  It will explode and you will be protecting this country because we’re behind in submarines and ships, behind China,” he said. “China is our number one adversary. And by golly, we’re not going to let them continue to outrun us in anything. And the people here in Muscle Shoals will make sure that that doesn’t happen for years and years to come.” 

Senator Britt pointed to the broader impact on American manufacturing and workforce development.

“American manufacturing is the backbone of American strength, and Alabama is going to help revitalize it and make sure that we are ready for whatever the world sends our way,” Britt said.

“Our great state has known this for a long time, and that’s the National Defense means a great deal to Alabama. But what the world continues to find out is that Alabama means a great deal to our National Defense,” she said. 

Closing the ceremony, Power had a special message for Northwest Alabama’s workforce.

“I also want to remind everybody that what is the point of having shared responsibility unless you also give the responsibility upside to the workforce,” he said. “So everyone in this building who comes and works for us are also the equity holders in Hadrian, because I cannot ask you to step up unless we also let you share in the rewards and the wealth will be great here.”