Tanker incentives agreements end

MOBILE, Ala. - Northrop Grumman, Alabama and Mobile-area governments formally ended their incentives agreements after the company opted to drop out of the competition to build tankers for the Air Force. Northrop Grumman had planned to build a $600 million assembly plant at Brookley Field, should it win the contract. It did, in 2008, but the contract was overturned on a protest from Boeing. Northrop and bidding partner EADS, which said the terms of the new competition favored the smaller Boeing plane, decided last week not to bid. The two companies received a $110 million package of cash and tax breaks tied to the creation of 1,500 job. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 03/18/10)