Aspen Aerogels, Inc., a technology leader in aerogel-based sustainability and electrification solutions, plans to construct a 500,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility at Southern Gateway Commerce Park in Bulloch County, Georgia. The $325 million project is expected to create more than 250 jobs.

Combined with the company’s East Providence, Rhode Island plant, the new facility is designed to triple Aspen's nameplate aerogel capacity in support of its thermal barrier expansion plans in the fast-growing electric vehicle market. Production at the 90-acre site near Statesboro is targeted for late 2023.

"We are pleased to be in the State of Georgia for the siting, development, and construction of our second aerogel manufacturing plant," noted Don Young, President and CEO of Aspen. "The City of Statesboro and the Bulloch County region offer Aspen a superior combination of operating features, including access to efficient ports; a strong, available workforce; and secure, low-cost utilities and critical raw materials. We are increasingly being asked to provide broader solutions for improved battery performance and safety centered on our PyroThin materials that provide thermal management, mechanical stability, and fire protection properties to EV battery systems."

Aspen’s aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e-mobility and clean energy. The company’s PyroThinTM products enable solutions to thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle market and its carbon aerogel program seeks to increase the performance of lithium-ion battery cells to enable EV manufacturers to extend the driving range and reduce the cost of electric vehicles. Headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts, Aspen currently manufactures its products at its facility in East Providence, Rhode Island.

"It's a thrilling day to be able to welcome Aspen Aerogels' innovative, sustainable solutions for the electric vehicle and energy storage markets to Georgia," said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. "We look forward to having Georgia employees collaborating with Aspen's network of world-class scientists, engineers, and additional skilled workforce to solve the challenges of our changing mobility landscape. On behalf of the Department, we also extend our thanks to our partners in Bulloch County for their partnership on this project and send our hearty congratulations on bringing this exciting company to the community."

Southern Gateway Commerce Park is a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certified park.

"On behalf of the Development Authority of Bulloch County, we are proud to welcome Aspen Aerogels to the Statesboro-Bulloch County community and our region," said Billy Allen, Vice Chair of the Development Authority. "Along with our great site and logistics advantages, we believe that Aspen's decision to locate here is a testament to our region's commitment to innovation, particularly in the electric mobility ecosystem. We are confident that our tremendous education resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will provide critical support to help Aspen flourish."