Sparta sets expansion at new site
Engineering firm will break ground on facility Tuesday
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A company that got its start in Huntsville is beginning a new chapter in its history this week as it expects the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) moves to bring more work here.
Sparta Inc., an engineering company that provides support to defense and intelligence organizations, will break ground Tuesday on a new facility for its Huntsville operations.
The new office will consolidate Sparta's Huntsville operations into one facility at 401 Diamond Drive, at the corner of Old Madison Pike. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Tuesday morning at 10.
Sparta was formed in Huntsville in 1979 and has grown to 19 offices and approximately 1,400 employees nationwide. Sparta's headquarters is now in California, but it still has more than 300 employees in Huntsville. The company has seen 20 percent growth over the past three years and did $277 million in business last year.
Wayne Winton started the company in Huntsville, along with Bob Vickery in California. Sparta celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
According to Howell Lee, director of governmental affairs for Sparta, the new 15-acre site will accommodate a new facility with 97,000 square feet and future expansion for another 35,000 square feet.
"This office will provide space for our current 300-plus local employees, plus additional employees moving to Huntsville with the BRAC relocation over the next few years," Lee said. "This new facility shows Sparta's commitment to Huntsville, Alabama, and to the defense of this country."
Missile defense work represents about 45 percent of the work for Sparta, which stands for Systems Planning, Analysis, Research and Technology Association. The company also does work in intelligence, technical services, tactical systems, space systems, hardware systems and homeland security.
© 2006 The Huntsville Times
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