(The Center Square) – A company that provides defense products is will manufacture unmanned surface vessels at a new facility in Georgia, bringing new jobs to the area, Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday.
Blue Ops, Inc. is creating more than 200 jobs and investing $31 million in Valdosta, according to Kemp. Up to 100 people will be hired this year.
“Our strategic focus on workforce development, reliable infrastructure, and pro-business environment attracts job creators to every part of the state,” Kemp said. “We are excited for the opportunities Blue Ops will create for families in Valdosta-Lowndes County.”
Blu Ops is a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, Inc., which provides drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, according to Kemp’s office.
“This investment in Valdosta is about building a modern, scalable, and domestic USV manufacturing base from the ground up,” said Barry Hinckley, president of Blue Ops, in a statement. “By leveraging advanced production technologies, Blue Ops is accelerating how quickly we can deliver mission-ready maritime systems for defense and national security customers.”
The company is leasing a 155,000 square-foot facility that formerly housed a boat company, according to the governor.
The Valdosta metro area’s unemployment rate was 4.0% in January, the last available numbers, up from 3.9% a year ago, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
The area lost 1,000 jobs from the previous month and 500 from the same period in January 2025.