ISR Group CEO Alfred Lumpkin (left) receives award for his support of the Tennessee National Guard August 27. 2013
SAVANNAH – Back in August, Alfred Lumpkin said that his 65-hundred acre Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Site was on the short list of contenders for FAA approval. Word is expected this morning whether or not the facility will become one of six sites inside the Continental United States where these high-tech aircraft will fly.
If the Savannah facility wins the award, Lumpkin says that the Tennessee-Alabama high-tech partnership will bring about $3-billion in related businesses to the area. It is a big deal.
And it also couldn’t come at a better time.
ISR Group operators ready a UAV for flight at Savannah Test Site – August, 2013
ISR Group laid off most of it’s staff of clerical workers, engineers, and UAV pilots. It all came as a big surprise to people in Hardin County. The reduction of over 60-percent of the company’s employees was part of an effort to reorganize ISR Group’s financial portfolio. Lumpkin said that by trimming the workforce and closing down some operations that were not viable, the company will be stronger and better able to serve it’s customers. There had been rumors that ISR Group was setting itself up for bankruptcy, however Lumpkin has reportedly said that bankruptcy is not planned or being discussed.
The announcement comes at 10:30 am today.
To see our earlier story on ISR Group, you may CLICK HERE.
