Georgia – A new manufacturing project in South Georgia is set to bring a major wave of jobs and investment to Valdosta, as Blue Ops, Inc., the maritime division of Red Cat Holdings, moves forward with plans for a new production facility in Lowndes County. State officials said the company will invest $30 million in the operation, which is expected to create more than 200 jobs over the next several years, adding new momentum to the region’s industrial base.
Governor Brian P. Kemp said the announcement reflects the strengths Georgia continues to market to employers looking to expand.
“Our strategic focus on workforce development, reliable infrastructure, and pro-business environment attracts job creators to every part of the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We are excited for the opportunities Blue Ops will create for families in Valdosta-Lowndes County.”
His remarks tied the project not only to economic development, but also to the state’s broader effort to spread opportunity beyond its biggest metro areas.
Blue Ops will operate from the former Regal Boats facility at 601 Gil Harbin Industrial Boulevard, a 155,000-square-foot building that will be repurposed for the manufacturing of uncrewed surface vessels, or USVs. The company expects to hire as many as 100 workers in 2026 alone, with additional jobs expected as operations scale in the years ahead. Information about employment opportunities is available at blueops.com.
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Company leaders say the Valdosta site is intended to become a modern domestic manufacturing base for maritime systems tied to defense and national security.
“This investment in Valdosta is about building a modern, scalable, and domestic USV manufacturing base from the ground up,” said Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops. “By leveraging advanced production technologies, Blue Ops is accelerating how quickly we can deliver mission-ready maritime systems for defense and national security customers. At the same time, we will create high-quality jobs here at home, reinforcing Red Cat’s commitment to a secure, domestic supply chain.”
Part of that expansion will be supported by Red Cat’s recently announced partnership with HADDY, which is expected to speed up production capacity. Under that model, large-scale 3D printers will be used to produce boat hulls, increasing the need for workers to help complete final assembly and production.
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The project was represented for the Georgia Department of Economic Development by Senior Regional Project Manager Andrea Taylor and developed in partnership with the City of Valdosta, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority, and Georgia Quick Start. Blue Ops’ arrival also marks a wider step forward for Red Cat, a U.S.-based defense technology company whose subsidiaries, including Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, build American-made robotic and drone systems for military, government, and public safety use. More information about the parent company is available at www.redcat.red.
