Kelly Space & Technology Opens East Coast Operation in Rhode Island
April 15, 2008 | Print this page | Share This | Email this page
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California-based high-tech company cites Rhode Island’s ability to foster innovation as key driver in decision to locate in the Ocean State
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) today announced that Kelly Space & Technology, Inc., a San Bernardino-based California company focusing on aerospace, energy and homeland security technologies, is establishing an East Coast operation in Rhode Island. As production commences over the next year, Kelly estimates its Rhode Island facility will house approximately 50 employees.
“Rhode Island welcomes Kelly Space & Technology to our growing base of marine and defense-related industries,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “Our state’s small size and our commitment to helping companies grow and innovate are a strategic advantage that clever business people recognize. Kelly Space & Technology will be a valuable addition to our state.”
To capitalize on the successful progress being made with its lightweight ballistic protection armor technology at its Aerospace Research and Development Center, Kelly Space is seeking to commercialize this technology for watercraft applications. The company plans to use Rhode Island’s strong marine and defense platforms and the state’s capability to serve as an innovation laboratory to create new market opportunities for Kelly’s armor technology as well as other technology platforms under development.
“We are pleased to welcome Kelly Space & Technology to Rhode Island and look forward to making their next phase of growth a great success. Kelly represents an important opportunity for Rhode Island to use its unique strengths and strong position in the marine and defense sectors to create good, high wage jobs for the state’s citizens,” said Saul Kaplan, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. “Kelly’s decision to locate in Rhode Island reinforces that Rhode Island is a strategic location of choice for innovators looking to develop and test new ideas in a smaller, more manageable environment and then scale those ideas nationally.”
Kaplan is also the founder and chief catalyst of the Business Innovation Factory (BIF), a non-profit established in 2004 to enable collaborative innovation and assist companies in leveraging Rhode Island’s unique capacity to support experimentation and innovation. Kelly learned about BIF while evaluating possible locations for its East Coast operations.
“Rhode Island’s great marine and defense industry and its growing science and technology community, coupled with programs like the Business Innovation Factory (BIF) provides a neutral platform where public and private sector innovators can collaborate to explore and test new business ideas. This convergence of resources offers Kelly an ideal environment to produce innovative watercraft for our armed services and law enforcement agencies utilizing our ballistics technology,” said Michael J. Gallo, President and CEO of Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. “Our new East Coast Operation will facilitate commercial arrangements and discussions with the federal government to determine the eventual scope and scale of production of ballistically-armored watercraft.”
The company also received assistance from Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, who offers services to start-ups and companies relocating to Rhode Island through his Business Services Division.
“My priority is helping businesses grow. After the team from Kelly came in to meet with us, I directed my First Stop Business Information Center to provide them with a roadmap to getting started in Rhode Island. We help companies with everything from filing articles of incorporation to preparing a roster of municipal and state agencies that regulate their industry,” said Mollis.
Kelly Space has been working to develop a lightweight polymer-based ballistic protection system that is capable of being molded into any shape for a wide variety of applications, and possessing substantial superior weight-strength advantages over leading ballistic armor products. The proprietary system works by absorbing and distributing the initial ballistic impact while eliminating fragmentation of shrapnel that can cause secondary injuries and death. Incorporating Kelly Space’s ballistic protection material into the watercraft hull significantly increases buoyancy and will offer virtually any level of ballistic protection desired cost-effectively.
Kelly Space & Technology’s Aerospace Research & Development Center was established to mature and deploy technologies that provide advancements in aviation, space, homeland security, energy generation and related technologies for both military and commercial system applications. The 30-acre, six-building center is located at the former Norton Air Force Base, in San Bernardino, California which supported the operations and maintenance of C-141 aircraft engines for the 63rd Military Airlift Wing and was home to seven major USAF Commands.
About Kelly Space & Technology
Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. is a privately held aerospace, energy and homeland security technology company based at the San Bernardino International Airport (the former Norton Air Force Base), California. For more information, visit www.kellyspace.com
Media Contacts
Melissa Withers
(401) 278-9134
Andy Cutler
(401) 743-7842
Jason Lee, Kelly Space & Technology
(909) 382-2010
