Tampa defense manufacturer plans $58M HQ expansion, 50 jobs

A Tampa defense manufacturer says it is expanding its Hillsborough County headquarters after securing a series of military contracts, the company announced Monday — investing $58 million into its facilities and adding 50 jobs. 

Tampa Brass & Aluminum, which manufactures missile parts, submarine components and other equipment for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, says the expansion will take place at its Town ‘N’ Country headquarters at 8511 Florida Mining Blvd. 

The new positions will pay an average of $83,200 annually, the announcement says. The Tampa-born company is looking to hire nondestructive testing technicians and supervisors, quality-control inspectors, welding inspectors and nuclear engineering technicians. 

The company also plans to invest $58 million in new machinery and equipment for its Tampa headquarters.

Now under new ownership, Tampa Brass & Aluminum considered expanding in Amarillo, Texas, before choosing to remain in Tampa, according to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, which assisted with the project. Company officials cite the region’s quality of life and “deep talent pipeline” as the deciding factors. 

“Tampa gave us everything we need to build the next chapter of this company — a skilled workforce, a strong manufacturing base and a community that backs advanced industry,” company President Aubrey Greene says in the release. 

The expansion comes as Tampa Brass & Aluminum seeks to increase its capacity to fulfill growing demand from military customers. Founded in Tampa, the company provides full-service advanced manufacturing, from raw materials to finished products, and its work includes precision machining, fabrication, non-destructive testing and quality assurance for missiles, submarine components and other mission-critical assets. 

Nondestructive testing is used to examine materials and components for defects without damaging them — providing crucial oversight when manufacturing equipment for aircraft, submarines and other military systems.

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council says it helped the company with its expansion by providing market analysis and bringing together regional partners to work on power upgrades, utility sales-tax exemptions, state training grants and plans for an apprenticeship training center. Some of those grants, according to the release, come from the state’s Quick Response Training program. 

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan says the expansion will create more specialized career opportunities for county residents.

“Their expansion reflects why manufacturers choose to grow here: We offer a skilled workforce and a strong business environment that supports companies competing in critical industries like defense and advanced manufacturing,” Hagan says in the release.