World’s oldest firearms manufacturer and major U.S. defense contractor to expand their US manufacturing in the heart of the Volunteer State.
NASHVILLE – Beretta USA officials along with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced today the company will expand its U.S. operations by building a new firearms manufacturing plant in the Gallatin Industrial Park, northeast of Nashville, Tennessee. Beretta, a global manufacturer of high-quality sporting and military firearms, will invest $45 million in a state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facility. Beretta will create 300 new Tennessee jobs. The company is expected to complete construction on the facility this year.
Beretta is the world’s oldest manufacturing dynasty, operating since 1526 in Italy. The company is privately owned and operated by members of the 15th and 16th generations of the Beretta family. Beretta supplies quality sporting and self-defense firearms to consumers worldwide. The company manufactures the U.S. Armed Forces M-9 pistol, the standard sidearm of U.S. soldiers since 1985. Beretta will make firearms at the new Gallatin plant from both their sporting and tactical product lines. The following are from today’s 11am EDT Beretta press conference.
“Beretta is one of the world’s greatest companies, and their decision to expand into Tennessee speaks to the standards of craftsmanship and quality our state’s workforce embraces every day,” Haslam said. “Attracting a legendary company like Beretta reinforces our goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs. I want to thank the Beretta family for their substantial investment in Tennessee and the 300 jobs they’ll create in Sumner County.”
“Today’s significant announcement by Beretta USA is a historic moment for the state of Tennessee, the Haslam Administration and ECD,” Hagerty said. “Beretta is one of the best brands in the world. Tennessee’s global reputation for manufacturing in an artisan tradition means we are able to attract companies like Beretta, with a proven commitment to excellence. Tennessee continues to earn global accolades for our business climate, and we boast the best balance sheet in the nation. I appreciate Beretta’s decision to locate in Tennessee, and we look forward to a partnership that will last centuries.”
“From the moment when we started to consider a location outside of the State of Maryland for our manufacturing expansion, Governor Haslam and his economic development team did an excellent job demonstrating the benefits of doing business in Tennessee. We are convinced we could find no better place than Tennessee to establish our new manufacturing enterprise. We look forward to building operations here and being part of your community for many years to come,” said Franco Gussalli Beretta, executive vice president and director of Beretta Holding S.p.A.
“When Beretta chooses a location for its business, we start with the possibility that we will be in that location for decades, if not hundreds of years, to come. We move forward with confidence knowing that Tennessee is a great place to do business. We look forward to our opportunities here and we look forward to working side-by-side with our new Tennessee neighbors,” said Jeff Reh, Beretta USA general counsel and vice-general manager.
FWIW, I don’t think Beretta is actually moving out of Maryland … at least not yet.
I talked to one of the Beretta folks briefly at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, and she said they weren’t moving out of Maryland – they were expanding into Tennessee. That said, I’d presume that the expansion would have been in Maryland if the “free state” wasn’t so anti-gun.
Perhaps further on down the line they will actually leave Maryland. But not for the moment.
I doubt they can move their military contracts very easily if at all, but at the same time they bought a lot of land in TN. I would expect them to get the new site up and running and then begin to transition things to that site. Any new products would launch in the new site and eventually – some years down the road – the MD work will dry up. They clearly know that the future of their company is in grave peril if they keep all their eggs in the basket of MD politicians.
Hey I wish Beretta would come close to Ohio
Florida would welcome any gun production/manufacturing. Florida is already home to a plethora of new innovative firearms producers and manufacturers. Yet, there’s plenty of space, lots of highly skilled, mature workers, and they are ready to contribute to the production of world class guns.
As a Florida resident, I am not supposed to inform people about this for fear of causing a stampede of new people into the Sunshine State, but the weather is the best in the world, low State Income taxes, economical standard of living with lots of young, exceedingly capable retirees from the rust belt looking for that job that merits their utmost devotion!
Don’t take my word for it. Just ask the millions of skilled workers who have left New York, New England, Ohio Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, etc., etc, who have retired to Florida, and who would love to show you their machining capabilities. Give Florida a try. You won’t regret it! You could do a lot worse in the other 49 States….
Hi I am a conservative and am pro 2nd amendment, I am happy that the Beretta Family is moving Beretta USA to Tennessee. Martin O’Malley is a hopeless Liberal, He and his gang of anti everything pertaining to personal freedom
is driving business out of Maryland by the thousands and it is not just pro gun business. Residents of Maryland need to wake up and fast, we can not afford to keep paying higher and higher tax to replace lost revenue as we lose jobs and business left and right. If he gets to the white house, after NoBamma This country and the planet will go down in flames. I wish Beretta the best of luck at their new location and I will continue to be loyal to their products.
Great! Once the TN facility is up and running, they can let the Maryland plant die a quick and painful death. Next, can we see Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Kahr, Ruger, Colt, Winchester, Mossberg, DPMS, and Rock River follow this example and move to Free America, instead of contributing to the coffers of their homes in unfriendly welfare states?
I am happy that the Beretta Family is moving Beretta USA to Tennessee. I have a Beretta PX4 Storm, and like it very
much. I was working for Loomis Armoured and carried my Beretta PX4 Storm, 40cal,S/W all the time. I qualified with it and was happy with the results. I always had a small grouping in the target at the bulls eye. Beretta makes high quality firearms. I would put them in the same area as Browning and Weatherby. I am USN Ret. also and have fired and qualified in the USN. Keep up the great work and quality Beretta. Thanks.
Paul-most Marylanders may have wanted this, I can’t say for sure. But MOST of MARYLAND did not-there’s a difference. Baltimore and the 3 or 4 urban counties around it totally control Maryland’s politics. The remaining 20 or so counties, including the area I’m from, is republican leaning, pro-gun, and is also totally politically disenfranchised and ignored.
The same is true in Ill. The Chicago thugs control the state while the wonderful people in Southern Ill. suffer.
Add Virginia and Colorado to this tragically-growing list.
Pay attention! Ruger are you watching? Taurus? We already have a couple mfg. right Murf? Got the machinists too! Lets get up and runnin….and we are usually warmer (hot/Humid) if you like that. Thanks Beretta! We won’t hassle ’em!
I live in Delaware, 3 miles from MD, & can’t carry across the state line without risking arrest. MD deliberately chased Beretta away, and I’m certain the company plans to close the MD factory after the new TN plant opens. What a shame. I now avoid doing any business or shopping and travel within MD.
Lucky Tennessee, only place that could hva been better would have been Texas.
The Northeast is making it so that I cannot see any gun manufacturers wanting to stay there. A great move for Beretta!
All company’s are done with anti gun states, move and the money will follow! Smart Beretta!
Congrats to Tennessee. I wonder if Connecticut, New York and Colorado are paying attention. Probably not. You want gun friendly? Come on out to Arizona. Open carry, concealed, with or without CCW, and strong castle doctrine laws.
The subtext here is that Maryland has become so anti-gun that the business climate for Beretta has driven them away. And so all those great paying jobs are now moving to Tennessee. Way to go O’Malley and Maryland legislature. One less challenger for Hillary.
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Martin O’Malley and most Marylanders are happy about this! Chased away another fine business.
I’ve long wanted to move to Tennessee. Now, I have one more reason to go. Hey, Beretta. Where do I send my resume?
cc: Martin O’malley