Saab to expand in Onondaga County, add 260 jobs

DeWITT, N.Y. — Saab plans to relocate the North American headquarters of Saab Defense and Security USA, LLC from Ashburn, Virginia to its site on Enterprise Parkway in the town of DeWitt.

The move, “in conjunction with other planned activities,” will result in the creation of nearly 260 new, high-tech jobs, as well as the retention of Saab’s existing local workforce of more than 450 employees, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced in his regional State of the State address in Syracuse.

Empire State Development, New York’s primary economic-development agency, is providing the company an incentive package of up $30 million in tax credits and a grant, Cuomo said. Saab will invest $55 million in the expansion.

Saab, a company based in Sweden, services customers in the military-defense and civil-security sectors.

Saab acquired DeWitt–based Sensis Corp. in 2011 and split the corporation into two units — Saab Defense and Security at 5717 Enterprise Parkway in DeWitt and the Saab Sensis Corp. unit at 85 Collamer Crossing Parkway, also in DeWitt

Saab currently employs more than 450 people between the two sites.

Saab Defense and Security delivers advanced technology and systems to U.S. armed forces and other government agencies.

Saab Sensis makes air-traffic management systems deployed at airports.

Saab North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saab Group, which has operations and employees on all continents around the world.

With several locations across the U.S. and Canada, Saab North America provides a broad range of defense and homeland security products and services to North American customers.

Incentive details

The state says it is offering Saab an incentive package to support its “significant investment, job creation, and retention “to encourage Saab’s efforts to stimulate industrial growth in Central New York.”

Empire State Development will provide performance-based incentives of up to $30 million, including $20 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $10 million URI grant.

Through its subsidiaries, Saab North America will invest about $55 million over the period of the agreement, which will include technology transfer, building renovations, the installation of machinery and equipment, and the installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment.

As a result, Saab will create 258 new jobs at its subsidiaries — Saab Defense and Security and Saab Sensis — while retaining its existing Upstate New York workforce of 456 employees.

This project will establish the Enterprise Parkway facility as the new North American headquarters for Saab Defense and Security, while also helping to grow Saab Sensis at the Collamer Crossing Parkway site.

Additionally, the company will begin a technology transfer program that will enable Saab Defense and Security to develop new products optimized for the U.S. government and industry customers.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com