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Northrop Grumman behind $500M investment at Melbourne Airport

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County is buzzing after it was announced Thursday that Northrup Grumman is behind a $500 million capital investment at Melbourne International Airport, which is expected to create 1,800 high-paying jobs.

The CEO for the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast told Channel 9 it was an extremely competitive process and the players involved in the deal didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it.

The expansion will happen in multiple phases with initial plans calling for a 220,000-square-foot building at MIA and 300 additional employees.

According to Sen. Bill Nelson's office, the Northrop Grumman will be building the next generation of B2 bombers.

Later phases of the company's expansion could include facilities totaling 500,000-square-feet and 1,500 additional jobs, all of it in addition to the Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence that has already been announced by Northrop Grumman for Melbourne International Airport.

The jobs created will pay an average of $100,000, Channel 9 was told.