LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) – A premier aerospace manufacturing facility has expanded in Lowndes County.

Aurora Flight Sciences held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 50,000-square-foot expansion at its manufacturing facility in the Golden Triangle.

The expansion represents a $43 million reinvestment in Mississippi.

The company started about two decades ago at Mississippi State University and has grown into one of the premier aerospace companies in the world.

Luke Colville, CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences, said growth at the site will continue alongside company programs.

“Things like MQ-25 and that program, which is currently, today, getting ready to enter into low-rate initial production,” Colville said. “As that program grows, you’ll see this site grow, you’ll see the team grow here, and hopefully it continues on this plan and schedule that we’ve got today.”

The $43 million investment is part of the company’s plan to expand 30 percent over the next five years.

Meryl Fisackerly, CEO of GTR Link, said the reinvestment reflects the region’s business climate.

“Companies want to not just be here, but to reinvest here as well,” Fisackerly said.

The reinvestment drew attendance from multiple levels of government.

Sen. Roger Wicker said the investment is tied to federal defense spending.

“This is the sort of flexible spending that we can do and turn out a product that keeps us safe in a much quicker way. And we’re doing this all up and down the state,” Wicker said.

Rep. Trent Kelly pointed to the local workforce.

“We have a workforce that’s the greatest in the nation,” Kelly said. “We’re open for business. We want to not only bring you here, but we want to grow you here, and give jobs and opportunity to our children.”

Gov. Tate Reeves cited the state’s unemployment rate.

“Mississippi’s unemployment rate is far below the national average today. That wasn’t always the case,” he said. “It’s been the case the last five years, but it wasn’t always the case. The reason that’s so important is because if you want a good-paying job in Mississippi, and you have the skills that you need to do that, the jobs are available so that our people can stay home and provide for themselves and provide for their families.”

Wicker said the investment is part of President Donald Trump’s request for $1.5 trillion invested in national defense.