Hornady, a fixture of the Grand Island, Nebraska business community for nearly 70 years, started a new chapter in company history after holding a public open house for its new Hornady “West” facility.

Attending the event on Oct. 26 were U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen. Along with the program, members of the public were able to take a self-guided tour throughout the 150,000-square-foot production and shipping facility. More than 1,000 people attended, including members of the local and national media.

Hornady "West" is an example of the company's growth and impact in the Grand Island, Nebraska community. (Photo: Hornady)

The building contains 15,000 tons of concrete, 103 miles of copper wire, 90 tons of structural steel and almost 23 miles of conduit. It houses Hornady ammunition production, packaging and inspection, as well as the distribution center.

In the last five years, Hornady has paid nearly $230 million to employees in wages and spent more than half a billion dollars within the state of Nebraska. Ninety-eight percent of Hornady products are manufactured in central Nebraska and are exported all over the world.

Hornady has donated $1.7 million to local and state charities since 2013. In the same time, Hornady employees have donated $444,000 to United Way and CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive).

In 2010, Hornady purchased 320 acres of the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant grounds. This was done to house not only the new facility, but also to support new R&D capabilities and other services for the company’s production operations.

Hornady bullets and cases will continue to be made six miles east of the new facility at Hornady headquarters in Grand Island. The added space from the new facility will make all departments more efficient.