General Dynamics, BRAC work honored

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP - The work by all involved in keeping the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center off a government closure list has earned an award from a site-selection magazine.

Area Development magazine named General Dynamics and the JSMC as a project of the year in its annual awards. Ohio also earned a Silver Shovel award for economic development work this past year, according to information from the magazine Web site and a news release from the Ohio Department of Development.

JSMC stayed off the Base Closure and Realignment Commission list and in recent years has increased employment from 400 to 1,000.

A group Team LIMA (Linked in Mutual Alliance) successfully kept the facility off a congressional and Pentagon closure list in 2005 and also kept parts of the buildings from being closed down. Many in the community helped lobby military and congressional officials.

In recent years the facility has diversified, obtaining work from several military branches and adding to its work force.

Area Development magazine, founded in 1965 and published bimonthly, is a leading magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation.