Why an international company is investing $13 million to expand in Columbus
A German firearms manufacturer operating in Columbus plans to expand its local footprint with a $13 million investment expected to create 35 jobs, Columbus economic development officials announced Thursday.
Heckler & Koch, which operates locally as HK USA, manufactures firearms for military, law enforcement and civilian clients. The company established its U.S. operations in Georgia in 2005 and employs about 115 people in Columbus, according to the news release.
“HK USA has supported quality jobs for Georgians for more than two decades, and we are grateful to see this relationship continue to benefit the Columbus community,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in news release.
Hecker & Koch’s Columbus facility is at 5675 Transport Boulevard. Michael Holley, HK USA’s CEO, said workforce partnerships with Georgia Quick Start, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Choose Columbus retention program support the expansion.
“Being part of Georgia’s defense and sporting community is a natural fit for us, and the Georgia Made program gives us a meaningful way to celebrate our team and the quality products we’re proud to make here at home,” Holley said in the news release.
Details about Heckler & Koch expansion in Columbus
The $13 million investment will be used to create an approximately 24,000-square-foot production floor that will start operations in July 2026, Holley told the Ledger-Enquirer during the Choose Columbus news conference Thursday. By summer 2027, HK USA will apply new machinery, like milling and computer numerical control (CNC) machinery, into the expanded facility.
Holley partially attributed the company’s growth strategy to evolving global security concerns and continued demand across military, law enforcement and civilian markets.
“Any of us that turn on the news see that there’s international influences all over,” Holley said, referencing the war in Ukraine and tensions with Iran. “We’ve got new products in our roadmap pipeline that is ultimately going to drive the growth. We needed this organic growth here locally. … Security is a real thing.”
Nearly 30% of HK USA’s workforce comprises veterans transitioning from Fort Benning, Holley said.
The expansion will require a mix of advanced manufacturing workers, including CNC machinists, programmers and skilled production employees. The salary range for these positions is vast and depends on skill level.
Holley said the range is from “upper 30s to lower 40s” thousand per year on the lower end and up to “management” salaries, which are $80,000 and higher per year, according to ZipRecruiter. Learn more about HK USA at its website, hk-usa.com.
“This won’t be the last time we’ll have a growth trajectory here in Georgia,” Holley said.
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 10:05 AM.