Aerojet Rocketdyne has officially broken ground on a project to expand its Camden, Ark., facility.

The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and other officials, also included the dedication of a 12-megawatt solar field currently under construction by Silicon Ranch Corporation on land adjacent to the 1,200-acre company site.

"I'm proud that, for more than 35 years, our Arkansas facility has manufactured solid rocket motors that are critical to the defense of our nation and that of our allies around the world," said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. "We are delighted to be able to expand our capabilities and workforce here and grateful for the way that Gov. Hutchinson and local leaders have welcomed our growth.

"This expansion is pivotal to the success of the Competitive Improvement Program we announced in March that is strengthening our position in the aerospace and defense industry."

Aerojet Rocketdyne said its capital investment for new buildings and renovations at its facility was supported through state and local incentives, including funding, job investment and creation programs, tax exemptions, real estate tax grants, and training reimbursements. Involved were the State of Arkansas, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Calhoun County, Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development and the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce.

Aerojet Rocketdyne is collaborating with the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation and Southern Arkansas University Tech on the solar field project which will power its Camdeen operations and generate electricity to power the equivalent of 2,400 single-family homes.

"This solar project is a key part of Aerojet Rocketdyne's commitment to operate all our sites in a sustainable manner," said Drake. "Working with our solar partners represented here today we are helping bring the state's largest solar field to life in order to provide a clean alternative energy source for our electricity needs and those of neighboring businesses and residences."