County backs Anduril shipyard deal

The Baltimore County Council passed a unanimous vote on Monday night to grant Anduril Industries a personal property tax credit. The measure allows the California-based defense firm to defer up to $210 million in taxes over a 30-year period. The credit applies to cranes, machinery, and other equipment at the company's new facility.

This local incentive is part of a larger financial support structure for the $3.7 billion project. Officials expect the company to receive nearly $500 million in combined county and state subsidies. The planned submarine manufacturing site will occupy the Tradepoint Atlantic campus in Sparrows Point.

The project aims to produce submarine parts for the U.S. Navy. Lawmakers described the investment as the largest economic undertaking in the county's history. They projected the facility would create more than 3,100 permanent jobs.

Councilman David Marks supported the bill, stating that the county's role is to lay the foundation for growth. He called the decision the right move for the region. County Executive Kathy Klausmeier attended the vote and joined members in applauding after the bill passed.

The Sparrows Point area has struggled since the Bethlehem Steel mill closed in 2012. Tradepoint Atlantic took over the site in 2014 and converted it into a logistics hub. The new 2 million-square-foot Anduril factory is designed to be the site's largest job creator. President Donald Trump unveiled the project during a visit to the site last month.

Tucker Cavanagh, the county's deputy administrative officer for economic and workforce development, said the legislation positions the county as a national leader in maritime manufacturing. He noted the project revitalizes an industry tied to the local history.

A few residents opposed the tax break, arguing against public funding for a defense technology company. Alexandria Sweeney urged the council to keep war out of the local economy. She asked them not to hand over $210 million of resident dollars to an AI war tech firm.

David Frash, Anduril's director of state and local government relations, told the council that several states competed for the investment. He said the county's incentives were a major reason the company chose Maryland. Frash reported that the company plans to start construction this year, begin hiring in 2029, and open the facility in 2030.