FRANKLIN — A company that makes autonomous boats and ships is investing $300 million to expand its presence in Franklin.

Saronic Technologies said that its expansion of the recently acquired Gulf Craft shipyard in Franklin is expected to create more than 3,200 jobs in the region.

The company is expected to create 1,500 new direct jobs. When Saronic acquired the shipyard in April, it retained the existing workforce of 35 employees and has since grown to more than 100, Louisiana Economic Development said in a news release Wednesday. LED estimates the project will result in an additional 1,770 indirect new jobs.

Saronic's expansion will increase production capacity at the firm's autonomous surface vessels shipyard, LED said.

“Saronic’s shipyard expansion in Franklin represents a major ste

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