Adding 288 New Jobs
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. — Elbit Systems of America announced a major expansion of its Hollins-area advanced manufacturing facility, committing $30 million and creating 288 new jobs to support increased production of low-light night vision technology for the U.S. military. The project will grow the company’s Roanoke County workforce to more than 1,000 employees, strengthening the region’s role in national defense innovation.
“Elbit America’s continued growth in Roanoke County strengthens America’s defense capabilities and supports our brave service members at home and abroad,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This expansion will create nearly 300 new jobs and increase production of the high-quality night vision systems our military relies on every day.”
Roanoke Regional Partnership President and CEO John Hull emphasized the region’s longstanding commitment to defense and technology-driven manufacturing.
“Elbit America’s continued investment underscores the region’s long history of supporting the nation’s defense through advanced manufacturing and innovation,” Hull said. “For decades, companies in the Roanoke Region have contributed to the technologies that keep our service members safe. This expansion brings even more jobs, investment, and opportunity to our community.”
Roanoke County leaders celebrated the project as a powerful signal of the area’s strong business climate.
“Elbit America’s expansion is a tremendous win for Roanoke County and a testament to our thriving business climate,” said David Radford, Chair of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. “This $30 million investment and the creation of new jobs demonstrate Elbit America’s confidence in our community.”
“This project adds momentum to the revitalization of the Plantation Road corridor and shows how strong partnerships between business and local government can create lasting benefits for our community,” added Phil North, Vice Chair of the Roanoke County Board.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) collaborated with Roanoke County and the Roanoke Regional Partnership to secure the project. The Commonwealth is supporting the expansion with a $1.2 million grantfrom the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund and a $300,000 Virginia Investment Performance Grant, designed to encourage continued capital investment by existing employers in Virginia.
Elbit America’s job creation will be further supported through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides funding and guidance for talent recruitment and workforce training.
This expansion marks another milestone in Roanoke County’s emergence as a hub for advanced manufacturing and defense technology, reinforcing the region’s economic momentum and contributing to critical systems that serve U.S. service members around the world.
