Birdon America, the U.S. arm of an Australian firm specializing in marine engineering and construction, is expanding its local offices in Elmwood to fulfill a new $1.1 billion, 10-year contract with the Coast Guard.

The contract, awarded last year, involves the engineering, design, construction, and delivery of 27 state-of-the-art waterways commerce cutter vessels. These vessels are intended to enhance the maintenance and protection of the U.S. Intracoastal and Inland Marine Transportation System, a 12,000-mile network of commercial waterways that facilitates the transport of an estimated 630 million tons of cargo annually.

To support this effort, Birdon America will invest $3.3 million to create 25 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of just under $100,000. These roles will oversee various aspects of the project. Additionally, the company will retain 12 existing jobs at the Elmwood office. The expansion is also projected to create 32 indirect jobs, as reported by Louisiana Economic Development (LED).

“The Birdon America expansion is a significant retention success for Jefferson Parish,” stated Jerry Bologna, President and CEO of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission. “Not only will Birdon’s continued investment in our community create new jobs and partnership opportunities, but it also reinforces our position as a global leader in the engineering and defense industries.”

Susan B. Bourgeois, LED Secretary, emphasized the broader impact: “Birdon America’s decision to stay and grow in Louisiana to help build the vessels that protect our ports is a testament to the economic impact of Louisiana’s longstanding support for the U.S. military and national defense.”

To secure the project in Elmwood, LED offered an incentives package, including the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs program.

Birdon America President Robert Scott highlighted the strategic advantages of expanding in Louisiana: “It made sense for the company to expand its local office rather than move because Louisiana is a hub for shipbuilding with an experienced workforce, supply chain availability, and proximity to water. Over 98% of our suppliers are U.S. companies, and 70% of the contract will be performed by small businesses, many of them in Louisiana.”

Birdon was founded in Australia in 1977 and opened its first U.S. office in Denver in 2009. Since then, it has grown to become a major U.S. defense contractor, solidifying its presence in the American market and expanding its operations to meet the needs of significant contracts like the one with the Coast Guard.