General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, will open its new Federal Student Aid Information Operations Center in the Cloverleaf Center on Hwy. 49 South in Hattiesburg, Miss. The project is expected to be create 225 new jobs by summer 2013, increasing to 250 by spring 2014.

The Hattiesburg facility will process applications and eligibility for more than $100 billion in federal student assistance for higher education. Workers will also aid the public in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In 2012, more than 251,000 Mississippians completed a FAFSA. The company expects the new facility to be operational by April.

“General Dynamics Information Technology is pleased to be part of Hattiesburg’s growth and economic development while at the same time continuing on our promise to deliver superior customer service to the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid program and its stakeholders,” said Marcus Collier, senior vice president for General Dynamics Information Technology’s Health and Civilian Solutions division. “Our efforts to staff our facility are beginning immediately and we look forward to becoming a true part of the Hattiesburg community.”

“I am proud to welcome General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of Fortune 100 company General Dynamics, to Mississippi,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “The decision by General Dynamics to locate these operations here and create so many jobs for the area’s residents is great news not only for the Hattiesburg region but for the entire state, and it will certainly have a positive impact on the local community. I thank General Dynamics for placing its confidence in our business climate and in our workforce.”

As an incentive the Mississippi Development Authority is providing $150,000 in ACE funds in support of the project, in addition to local and state statutory tax incentives and workforce training assistance.

“This is an exciting day for Hattiesburg and the state of Mississippi as General Dynamics Information Technology becomes the newest member of the Hattiesburg business community,” MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen said. “I am grateful MDA could assist with this project, and I thank our partners at the Area Development Partnership who worked with us to bring General Dynamics to our state. “