By: Joseph Warta

The nation’s oldest firearm manufacturer, Remington Firearms, announced this week that it will be relocating its headquarters from New York and opening a new manufacturing facility in LaGrange, Georgia.

Remington Firearms, founded in 1816, has been headquartered in Ilion, New York for decades. In light of trends away from gun rights in New York, however, leadership at Remington saw it as a prudent move to relocate somewhere friendlier to gun rights. With this move, the company is investing $100 million into the local Georgia economy and will create 856 jobs in the area.

Ken D’arcy, CEO of Remington, was quoted as saying they were persuaded to move to LaGrange, Georgia because of the work of both the State of Georgia and the City of LaGrange’s Economic Development Authority.

“We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry,” said D’Arcy. “We cannot wait to expand our company in Georgia. Everyone involved in this process has shown how important business is to the state and how welcoming they are to all business, including the firearms industry.”

Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp said: “I am a proud owner of some of Remington’s first-class product, and now, I am excited to welcome them to their new home in the Peach State. As yet another big manufacturing win for our state, I look forward to seeing the oldest firearms manufacturer in America thrive in Georgia’s pro-business environment.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Remington Firearms to the growing list of manufacturers who call LaGrange home,” said Mayor of LaGrange Jim Thornton. “The Remington name has long been associated with great products, and I know they will continue that tradition and be very successful here.”

According to Fox News, the economic development director for the City of LaGrange, Scott Malone, said that Remington will use multiple different facilities, some new and others renovated, and one building in the city has already been acquired by the company. To sweeten the deal, the city is offering property tax abatements and utility and infrastructure improvements.

Remington is not alone in its move from an anti-gun north state down to the more gun-friendly South: the announcement comes on the heels of the National Rifle Association’s planned move from New York to Texas earlier in 2021, and Smith & Wesson’s move from Massachusetts to Tennessee announced just in September of 2021.

The news of this plan to move comes within the shadow of the financial turmoil Remington has been at the center of for several years, filing for bankruptcy in 2020. The company was broken into parts and sold off. The majority of the firearms business was sold off to Roundhill Group, LLC, and the ammunition business and brand name were sold off to Vista Outdoor.