By Lori Leath Smith
A defense contractor and leader in Aerospace Development and Engineering Services is planning to move its headquarters from California to Freeport! The American Metal Bearing Company (AMB), a premier supplier of propulsion bearings to the U.S. Navy and developer of micro-turbine systems, has been servicing the U.S. Military for the last 85 years.
In 1921, the small bearing company was established in Los Angeles to manufacture specialty bearings for early Indy Cars, according to its website. It later grew into the WORLD’S leading developer in bearing propulsion systems. Throughout the 20th century and modern day, the company has pioneered advancements in journal bearing design, the manufacture of bearings, which control motion in various types of machinery, such as Navy submarines and other ships. The list of Navy ships and submarines equipped with bearings that AMB has engineered and manufactured reads like the history of the U.S. Navy fleet.
In a presentation to the Walton County BCC, CEO Michael Litton said they plan to bring half of AMB’s current staff with them and hire new employees, roughly 15, for the other half initially—that number could grow to 50 eventually.
Litton stated the company has most recently been working on missile platforms, such as Navy submarines and additional similar jobs, but is wanting to expand to aircraft, and thus, it discovered our area was highly conducive.
Not only is Florida, in general, ideal due to the state’s tax incentives and advantages, but Freeport is appealing due to its proximity to I-10 and airports, its mild climate and former military—workforce talent with skills from engineering to IT to maintenance—in the region. The company also hopes to connect with nearby Tyndall and Eglin Air Force bases, but has the potential of connecting with our six major military installations in the region, “all with aviation/aerospace-related missions, which have a huge impact on the industries, research and development and talent pool in the region,” as stated on Florida’s Great Northwest’s website. “Defense contractors, manufacturers and high-tech businesses located in the region benefit from the skills of the 3,000 service members that separate each year and a talent pool of more than 130,000 former military-trained personnel in the region. Local school resources are also a benefit—Walton and Okaloosa County schools are ranked among the top in the state as well as our award-winning local colleges. Of course, it’s also a safe and beautiful place to live and raise a family.
From an economic development standpoint, this is a win in continuing to try to diversify our economy in the region. It’s long been known in the economic development arena that our area would benefit by developing in other industries so as to not depend totally on the hospitality industry.
Planned for 60,000 square feet on 11 acres at the Walton County Industrial Park, the Freeport building will be larger than its California counterpart allowing for its expansion of services. Welcome AMB—we look forward to you thriving in our beautiful and resourceful paradise.
