TROY, Ala. — A new water line in Pike County is the latest piece of public infrastructure tied to Lockheed Martin's growing missile plant in Troy. Gov. Kay Ivey awarded a $1 million federal grant for the project on Oct. 14, and the Pike County Commission is putting in another $755,000.
The line will support Lockheed Martin's $35 million to $50 million expansion in Troy, which is expected to bring about 300 jobs. It will also improve water service for two other manufacturers and about 900 nearby residents.
The grant and the line
The $1 million comes from the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds it, and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) administers it in the state. Ivey notified Pike County Commission Chairman Chad Copeland that the grant had been approved.
Together, the grant and the county match add up to about $1.76 million. The state did not release the length, size or route of the line, a construction schedule or who will build it.
Local leaders say the upgrade will fix limits in the current water system and leave room for more industrial growth in the area.
Ivey called the project a significant development for Troy and Pike County, one that brings good jobs and supports national defense. ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said it will strengthen the region's manufacturing capacity.
Lockheed's growing Troy plant
Lockheed Martin has operated in Troy since 1994. The plant builds Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, Javelin and HELLFIRE missiles, and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, among others. The company employs nearly 4,000 people across Alabama.
The expansion follows a framework agreement Lockheed announced with the Pentagon in January 2026. Under that deal, annual THAAD interceptor production at Troy will grow from 96 to 400 over seven years, roughly quadrupling output.
To make room, Lockheed broke ground on May 21 on Building 47, an 87,000-square-foot munitions production center. The company says it will nearly double the site's current production space. The new building will also support work on the Next Generation Interceptor program.
At that groundbreaking, Lockheed Chairman and CEO Jim Taiclet said the company had already invested well over $1 billion in its expansion and was ready to meet urgent demand for more production. Lockheed has said it plans to spend more than $9 billion nationwide through 2030 to upgrade or build more than 20 munitions facilities. ADECA's $35 million to $50 million figure refers specifically to the Troy expansion the water line supports.
Who else benefits
The line is not only for Lockheed. It will also serve two other industrial facilities in Troy, Rex Lumber and Universal Precast.
About 900 residents near the line are also expected to get better water service.
Timeline
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
1994 | Lockheed Martin opens in Troy |
January 2026 | Pentagon framework agreement to raise THAAD output from 96 to 400 a year |
May 21, 2026 | Groundbreaking on 87,000-sq-ft Building 47 |
Oct. 14, 2026 | $1M grant awarded for water line; $755K county match |
Next seven years | THAAD production ramps to 400 a year |
What it means for contractors
This story has two parts for builders.
The first is the water line itself. Because it is funded with federal block grant money and a county match, it will likely go through a public bid. Utility and pipeline contractors in south Alabama should watch for a Pike County bid notice.
The second is the plant. Building 47 is already under construction, and a fourfold jump in THAAD output over seven years points to more work at the site. Lockheed has also said more Alabama expansions are planned for other missile programs.
The pattern is common in economic development. A small public infrastructure grant like this one, about $1.76 million in water work, helps clear the way for a much larger private project and the hundreds of jobs that come with it.