2008 Woodie Awards
EADS lands major tanker bid
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
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The company plans to build the tankers at Brookley Field Industrial Complex in Mobile, Ala., creating 1,500 new jobs at that sight. With its overarching economic impact, the tanker contract is expected to support a total of 25,000 jobs.
"This is really a historic and great day for Mobile and our entire region," Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said at a news conference. "This is a community-changing industry, and we will see our community change for the better."
Chicago-based Boeing was considered a heavy favorite due to Boeing's political clout and long-time ties with the Air Force. Boeing had been supplying the Air Force with refueling tankers for nearly 50 years.
Boeing plans to protest the award. Some influential politicians in Washington plan to support Boeing's protest.
"It's stunning to me that we would outsource the production of these airplanes to Europe instead of building them in America," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).
"I'll be calling upon the Secretary of Defense for a full debriefing and expect there will be a protest of the award by Boeing."
The tanker announcement is the second competitive major economic development package awarded to the Mobile area in the last year.
In May, Alabama beat out Louisiana in a bid to attract German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp AG. The company plans to build a new $3.7 billion steel plant in northern Mobile County, creating an estimated 2,700 permanent jobs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
USA Graduate
posted 3/03/08 @ 2:45 PM CST
Best check your facts. Boeing has not said (yet) that they will protest this award. They mosy likely will not announce any type of protest until they have been de-briefed on March 12. (Continued…)
Not a USA Graduate
posted 3/03/08 @ 6:20 PM CST
Hence the author's use of the phrase 'plans to', which is not equivalent to the phrase 'is going to'. So their plans are contingent on the debriefing on March 12. (Continued…)
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