# BWXT Expands Tennessee Uranium Production

BWXT plans a $714.5 million expansion at its Jonesborough, Tennessee, site, adding 181 jobs and increasing high-purity depleted uranium production for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The project supports BWXT’s 10-year, $1.6 billion NNSA contract awarded in September 2025. Once operational, the facility is expected to be the federal government’s only active site for this production process. Tennessee is supporting the expansion with an economic development grant; the grant amount was not disclosed.

- **Why this matters:** The expansion adds production capacity tied to a long-term NNSA award and concentrates this production process at one expected active federal site, making facility readiness and supply-chain capacity relevant to the program.
- Companies supporting nuclear-material production, facility construction, and related operations can assess whether their capabilities align with the Jonesborough expansion and BWXT’s contracted work.
- Procurement teams and suppliers should distinguish the $714.5 million facility investment from the separate $1.6 billion NNSA contract; the announcement does not identify a new solicitation or disclose the state grant amount.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
- Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund

### Vendors
- BWX Technologies (BWXT) (prime contractor and awardee)

### Key Quotes
> When we created Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund, our goal was to cultivate an ecosystem where this industry could thrive.
> — Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee

> This grant will help create benefits for the community that will last decades.
> — Jeff Messaros, General Manager of BWXT Ordnance Tennessee

### Sources
- [BWXT Eyes $715M Tennessee HPDU Production Facility Expansion](https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/bwxt-tennessee-hpdu-production-expansion) - ExecutiveBiz