CRANE -- NAVMAR Applied Sciences Corporation will join the growing list of technology and engineering firms in the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park later this year, according to Dale Ankrom, managing partner of the WestGate @ Crane Development Co., LLC.

NAVMAR, a Pennsylvania-based national defense contractor, will enter the Indiana market with 15 new engineering jobs in November.

The firm will occupy 7,000 sq. feet of new construction in the technology park by the end of the year.

"We're very pleased to welcome NAVMAR as the company opens its first Indiana location at the WestGate, and look forward to helping the company expand its Indiana-based operations over the coming years," said Ankrom.

Construction began earlier this year for three new mixed-use buildings in the WestGate, which provides expansion opportunities for commercial defense contractors serving the U.S. Department of Defense-related contractors in and associated with the $2 billion Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) located immediately west of the park. By early 2009, the WestGate is expected to offer about 90,000 sq. ft. of new mixed-use facilities.

To date about $9 million in private equity has been invested by the WestGate @ Crane Development Co in the park.

"The WestGate represents a strategic opportunity for the creation of high-impact jobs and regional growth for south central and southwest Indiana," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. "The park's potential to spur broad economic development across the region is again underscored by attracting NAVMAR to Indiana."

"The U.S. Navy is one of our largest customers, and being close to NSWC Crane helps us to be of maximum service," said Mike Kelley, director of administration for NAVMAR in Pennsylvania. "Our new WestGate presence will be our first in Indiana, and we're very happy to locate there."

"NAVMAR's decision to raise up an all-new presence in southern Indiana demonstrates the possibilities for real growth and progress in this region," added Skillman. The vicinity around the 100-square-mile Navy base offers numerous advantages for commercial defense growth. With state-Certified Technology Park status from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), the WestGate park "can and is providing a critical leadership role for commercial economic expansion in the Crane area," the Lt. Gov. explained.

"The proximity of the WestGate to the base and its growing features make the park an ideal location for companies like NAVMAR to work directly with DoD technical professionals and NSWC Crane engineers," said Jason Lovell, who directs the state's defense effort. By the end of the year, NAVMAR will employ up to 20 people with the intent of expanding throughout 2009. The company currently services Department of Defense contracts through NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command).

As a major DoD facility, NSWC Crane contributes more than $1.9 million a day into the Indiana economy. As the third largest employer in Southern Indiana, NSWC Crane employs approximately 5,000 scientists, engineers and technical professionals from three states and 40 Indiana counties. Additionally, NSWC Crane annually contracts out an additional $700 million in services beyond the borders of the state.

As the WestGate continues to come online with new buildings, research and development facilities, and high-tech secure warehouses, the technology park is ideally situated to attract major defense and related national operations into Indiana.

Current tenants in the WestGate include Fortune 500 defense contractors EG&G and SAIC, as well as the headquarters operations of the Crane Federal Credit Union (which directly serves base employees and residents of the region). The WestGate expects to make several more announcements within the coming months as leases are finalized with additional companies.

"Given its location next to NSWC Crane, the WestGate@Crane Technology Park represents an ideal location to develop synergies with on-base research and development operations, which is a highly attractive advantage," said Ankrom.

Since the park's inception, defense and other companies have made commitments for about 250 jobs at the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park.