New York’s Loss Appears to be Alabama’s Gain

Just a month after Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) said “extreme conservatives” who are “right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay,” have “no place in the state of New York,” at least one entity is taking him at his word.

On February 17^th, 2014 Remington, one of the world’s largest gun manufacturers, joined Gov. Robert Bentley (R) of Alabama to announce they’re bringing over 2,000 jobs to Alabama.

The company is viewing the move into Alabama as an expansion, but it will likely impact their Ilion, NY plant as well. The New York facility currently employees around 1,200 people. It is expected to stay open, but with a reduced workforce.

The company recently stated that, “The demand for Remington products has skyrocketed recently, for obvious reasons, so they need to increase their production capacity. They will be expanding their research capabilities with the Alabama plant, too.”

The initial estimated impact on Alabama’s economy will be roughly $87 million.

According to Remington’s website, the company designs, produces and sells sporting goods products for the hunting and shooting sports markets, as well as military, government and law enforcement markets. Founded in 1816 in upstate New York, the Company is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating manufacturers. Remington is the only U.S. manufacturer of both firearms and ammunition products and one of the largest domestic producers of shotguns and rifles. The Company distributes its products throughout the U.S. and in over 55 foreign countries.

With so many other major gun manufacturers fleeing stricter gun control states, the fear in NY is that Remington and the thousands of much needed Upstate jobs it creates, could ultimately relocate entirely out of NY.

Elections and policies do have their consequences.