By Bobby Harrison

Daily Journal Jackson Bureau

JACKSON - Dan Murphy, the chief executive officer of Alliant Technologies, said he received phone calls from political leaders of one state when his company was looking to expand.

On Wednesday, one of those leaders signed legislation that will provide ATK $25 million in bonds to improve its Iuka plant, which will make composite frame and engine components for a new generation of commercial aircraft.

"We were in discussions with about eight different states," Murphy said Wednesday during Gov. Haley Barbour's bill-signing ceremony. "One state's political leaders took the effort to call me personally."

Murphy said he was called not only by Barbour, but by both U.S. Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker. He also met with U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, a Democrat whose district includes Iuka.

While he appreciated the personal touch, he also has stressed that the state's incentive offer and the area's work force were deciding factors.

ATK, which currently employs 176 people in Iuka, is expected to increase its work force to 800 within the next eight years.

As part of the agreement that led to the ATK expansion, the state will issue $25 million in bonds. Tishomingo County will issue $5 million in bonds that will be paid back through tax revenue from the plant.

The company has committed to investing at least $175 million in upgrading its location in Iuka to make it ready for the expansion. The company is supposed to provide an average salary of $53,000 for the 800 employees.

Barbour said the ATK expansion fits into the state's economic development plans for using research at its universities to develop its aviation and aerospace industries and its lightweight, yet durable, composite materials industry.

"By locating these composite aircraft component operations at its Iuka plant, ATK has made a significant commitment to doing business in Mississippi," Barbour said.

Murphy said ATK would have been forced to close the Iuka plant had it not landed the contract to develop parts for the next generation of commercial aircraft. But now Iuka is in line for more possible expansions.

Murphy said eventually additional NASA rocket parts will be made from composite materials and ATK will bid on that business.

"If we win that, it will go to Iuka," Murphy said.

ATK has plants in 21 states and manufacturers aircraft parts, ammunition and gun systems. Work will begin this spring on retooling the Iuka plant at the Tri-State Industrial Park for the expansion.

Contact Bobby Harrison at (601) 353-3119 or bobby.harrison@djournal.com.