Week in review (7/21 to 7/27)

When it comes to economic growth potential, the four states in the Gulf Coast region made the top 10 list of the 15th annual Business Facilities’ report. Alabama is ranked fifth, Florida is seventh, Louisiana eighth, and Mississippi tenth.

In another category, Alabama and Florida make the top 10 of states with the best business climate. Alabama is ranked third and Florida eighth. In workforce training, Louisiana is first, Alabama second, and Florida sixth.

Florida is ranked fourth in best business tax climate, and in the list of top manufacturing states for percentage of the workforce, Alabama is fifth and Mississippi ninth. In tech jobs employment, Florida is fourth, but second for tech jobs growth.

According to this report, the nation’s aerospace leaders are Washington, California, Texas, Kansas, Connecticut, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Missouri. Too bad they don't rank portions of four states, like the I-10 corridor.

You can read more about the report at Business Facilities.

In other news of interest to the Gulf Coast during the week:

Contracts – Triton

Northrop Grumman was awarded two contracts during the week for the MQ-4C Triton program.

In one, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $33.8 million delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This order procures material kits and retrofit labor to incorporate the Integrated Functional Capability 4.0 configuration into retrofit aircraft and ground segments. Work is expected to be completed in January 2022.

The company also was awarded a $14.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This modification incorporates integrated functional capability 4.0 into low-rate initial production Lot 2 Aircraft B12. Work is expected to be completed in November 2021. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity for both contracts. Fuselage work on Triton is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contracts - others

Draeger Inc., Teleford, Pa., was awarded a $9.9 million contract for anesthesia recording and monitoring devices sustainment services in support of Navy, Army, Air Force, and National Capital Region military treatment facilities inside and outside the continental U.S. Among the work locations are Eglin Air Force Base Hospital, Fla. (2%); Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (2%); and Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla. (2%). This contract has a five-year period of performance and all work is expected to be completed by July 26, 2024. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Md., is the contracting activity. … United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $25 million modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification procures milling machines, fixtures and tooling to increase production capacity for critical F135 components. Work will be performed in East Hartford and is expected to be completed in February 2022. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. F-35s are powered by F135 engines. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.