Baltimore County approves $210M tax break for Anduril shipyard at Sparrows Point

Baltimore County Council approved a $210 million personal property tax break for defense contractor Anduril to build a shipyard in Eastern Baltimore County, according to WYPR. The tax break covers maritime manufacturing property such as cranes, rail cars, forklifts, and drydocks over 30 years.

Anduril plans to construct a two million-square-foot shipyard at Sparrows Point, where components for the Virginia class attack submarine will be produced. The company expects to employ more than 3,100 people directly, with thousands more in indirect jobs like construction, WYPR reported.

The shipyard is part of a $3.7 billion private capital investment at Tradepoint Atlantic, the site of the former Bethlehem Steel mill, which closed in 2012. The area has seen economic challenges since then, but county officials view Anduril's project as a major opportunity for growth and job creation, The Baltimore Banner reported.

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier and council members expressed support for the tax incentives, saying they were necessary to secure the project and would benefit local businesses, workers, and families. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with initial operations planned for 2030, WYPR said.

The tax credit is part of a larger package of county and state subsidies totaling nearly $500 million to support Anduril's submarine facility. The project is seen as the largest economic investment in Baltimore County's history, according to The Baltimore Banner.