$188M contract is welcome news for Ohio tank plant that faced threats to its federal funding

9/20/2013

LIMA, Ohio — A nearly $188 million contract announced by the Pentagon will mean a significant injection of business for a northwest Ohio tank manufacturer whose future seemed shaky amid numerous threats to its federal funding.

The contract calls for upgrading Abrams tanks for Saudi Arabia, and most of the work will be done at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. The contract was awarded to the private defense contractor General Dynamics, which operates the government-owned center.

General Dynamics spokesman Rob Doolittle told the Lima News it’s one of several orders that were pursued to help keep the plant running.

The military has considered shutting down the plant for several years, citing deep spending cuts and a sufficient supply of battle tanks for the time being.