MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Local and state leaders gathered to break ground on Wednesday at the multi-million dollar Barrett Firearms manufacturing facility in Murfreesboro.

The new 250,000 square foot campus is located along Manchester Pike, roughly a mile away from its current facility located along Interstate 24.

“Barrett rifles, the primary weapons that go to military, not only the U.S. Military but to 75 different militaries around the world, are sniper rifle systems, so extreme, long-range, accurate rifles. So, at this factory, now we'll produce all of the sniper rifles for the U.S. Military and for our close allies,” NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said.

Company leaders hope to retain their current tenured skilled workers, on top of adding new jobs.

“The Barrett family established the original Barrett Company here, and we were really wanting to keep very local," Nioa said. “This new facility's going to be three times the size of our existing floor space, and it's going to allow us to invest in new technologies, more advanced weapon systems and to expand production."

City, county and state leaders showed up to welcome the facility on Wednesday.

“We take a certain amount of pride in that fact, that Tennessee and Tennessee workers do their part to help our war fighter carry out that mission,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn said.

Not all are happy with the development. Multiple neighbors asked county officials not to rezone the property back in April, which was originally zoned for a medium-sized neighborhood.

“The noise pollution, the light pollution, it also takes away from our environment out here, our peace, our wildlife,” said Kim Roland, whose property is located behind the project site. “This is going to cause issues for me as to the reason why I moved out here, and I probably will leave Rutherford County.”

Employees expect to begin working at the site in December 2026, and the campus should be completed at the beginning of 2027.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/murfreesboro/barrett-firearms-breaks-ground-on-new-facility-in-murfreesboro/