Mobile, AL – Alabama has lost its bid to become home of a plant that will build aircraft refueling tankers for the Air Force.
The Pentagon is awarding a $35 billion contract for the work to the Boeing Co. rather than the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which planned to assemble the tankers in Mobile.
Gov. Robert Bentley and other leaders gathered in Mobile for the announcement describe the decision as a sad day for Alabama.
A crowd, gathered to watch the Pentagon announce its decision, fell silent at news of the decision.
The contract initially went to EADS and Northrop, but Boeing protested and the work was rebid. Alabama officials pushed for the work to come to Mobile since the contract would have meant thousands of jobs.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)