Aerospace, defense firms coming to Colorado Springs, Centennial
A veteran-owned, California-based company that provides spaces for classified work by government agencies and companies has chosen Colorado for its third and largest location.
Nooks, a defense industry startup, has acquired rights to a 60,000-square foot facility near the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, which will provide a secure space for clients. The company also considered sites in Florida and California to expand its operations.
In another announcement Tuesday, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade said the space-security company True Anomaly will expand its operations by opening an office in Centennial.
The expansion by Nooks is expected to create 35 jobs at an average annual wage of $165,942.86, according to the state economic development office. The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $763,182 in performance-based job growth incentive tax credits for the company over eight years.
“As the epicenter of national security space, we’re happy to welcome Nooks to Colorado as our collaborative aerospace and defense industry continues to grow with the addition of this innovative veteran-owned small business,” Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, co-chair of the Colorado Space Coalition, said in a statement.
Colorado has the country’s second-largest aerospace industry behind California and the highest concentration of private aerospace employees, according to a report by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado Space Coalition.
Colorado has about 290 aerospace companies and more than 500 companies that provide space-related products and services, the report said.
“Colorado Springs is one of the centers of America’s National Security Ecosystem,” Nooks CEO Sean Blackman said in a statement.
Colorado Springs and the state have done “an exceptional job attracting America’s best and brightest defense focused companies,” Blackman added.
Nooks founders have experience in defense, government and emerging technologies, state officials said. The company focuses on increasing the pace of innovation and adoption of technology by providing facilities for work on classified data and systems.
Nooks has 22 employees, 18 of whom are veterans or still serve in the National Guard or Reserves. Other locations are in National Landing in Arlington, Va., and El Segundo, Calif.
The company True Anomaly was founded by two U.S. Air Force veterans. Primavera said after conducting a national search, the company selected Centennial as its headquarters and permanent home.
True Anomaly has a technology platform that combines training and simulation tools, advanced spacecraft manufacturing infrastructure and autonomy systems to provide space security.
The company plans to hire 200-300 employees over five years. The Centennial operation will include a 35,000-square-feet building to house offices as well as manufacturing facilities.
“Our roots are in Colorado, and it means a lot to my co-founders and me to continue expanding our footprint with our new Centennial office,” said Even Rogers, True Anomaly CEO and co-founder. “We’ll continue to invest in our Colorado team as we grow rapidly over the coming months and years.”
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