The NIOA Group officially broke ground this month on its new Barrett Firearms facility in a ceremony that marked the beginning of the new Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus (BMTC) and NIOA North American Headquarters. The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN-R), Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, industry executives, company officials and others.
BMTC will be the NIOA Group’s global center of excellence for firearms and advanced military weapons manufacturing and research capabilities. The $76.4 million project creates a 170-acre campus at 8808 Manchester Pike, Murfreesboro TN, not far from the company’s original headquarters where it operated for more than four decades. It marks the most significant investment in Barrett’s history and reflects the NIOA Group’s long-term commitment to advanced manufacturing and jobs in Rutherford County Tennessee.
Barrett has built a reputation for innovation in large-caliber, long-range superiority and is a trusted supplier to U.S. and allied militaries worldwide. The new facility, described as “the factory of the future,” will continue that story of innovation, research and development and precision military manufacturing to produce the next generation of advanced soldier-fired weapon systems.
“As a locally founded business, we’re proud to invest once again in the place that has shaped our success as a global leader serving both the commercial and military markets,” Barrett CEO Bryan James said. “This project not only underscores our commitment to the region, supporting hundreds of local jobs, but it’s a significant investment in our people, our customers and our capabilities.”
Stage One of the BMTC includes corporate headquarters, R&D capabilities, large scale state-of-the-art manufacturing and first floor office area spread over more than 250,000 square feet. The expansion will double the Barrett workforce over the next five years and enable the company to meet growing worldwide demand for its commercial and defense products.
“Tennessee is a firearms and ammunition industry powerhouse. As we look ahead to global growth, we are excited to be building the factory of the future right here,” said NIOA Group Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Barrett board Rob Nioa. “This is a strategic investment that will give us the scale, technology and capacity to meet the evolving demands of our customers and defense partners worldwide.”
BMTC construction is expected to be complete by February 2027. Operations to begin soon after.
