Company eyeing Russellville as location for $200 million defense industry investment

President Donald Trump’s victory last November came as welcome news to the nation’s defense industry, which is poised to see unprecedented growth in Trump’s second term.

Last month’s passage of House Resolution 1, known informally as Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ includes $150 billion in mandatory funding to strengthen national defense.

And the City of Russellville is poised to receive some ‘Big, Beautiful News,’ if an investment company specializing in defense logistics and manufacturing formalizes its pursuit of a development opportunity in the City of Russellville.

The Franklin Free Press has learned that the company is in continued discussions with City of Russellville officials about choosing the city as the location for what could be a $200 million capital investment.

Specific details of the project and/or what would be assembled at the facility are not available, as the company continues its behind-the-scenes work to secure all infrastructure required for the opportunity.

“We are working with city officials and are excited about their cooperation and support of this project,” a company spokesman told the FFP.

Russellville Mayor David Grissom said he is cautiously optimistic about the venture.

“Right now, it’s all in the discussion stage but we hope to see things come together in the near future and that we’ll be able to make a major announcement at that time,” Grissom said. “We want to work together and offer all the support we can to encourage economic growth and expansion of existing industry.”

Russellville District Two Councilman Darren Woodruff has met with company officials multiple times and is encouraged about what he’s heard.

“We’re very excited for this opportunity Russellville has with this project. We’ve worked very hard on economic development and the seeds that were sowed are paying off with our fire department and airport,” Woodruff said. “If this project is successful it will change Russellville forever. You will see hotels and restaurants pop up inside Russellville. You will also see land developers come to Russellville and buy large tracts of land and start building subdivisions. 

“Russellville is a blessed city and God’s favor is raining down on us,” Woodruff added.