The Rock Island Arsenal is getting a $96-million deal to retrofit Humvees into ambulances.
The two-year extension will keep 70 workers busy inside the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.
"This is really good for us in the sense that it's steady work, which is rare at the Arsenal," said Program Manager Scott Young.
After completing the initial order of 500 ambulances, they'll finish another 658 for the National Guard and Army reserves.
"It's 21st Century work," said Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois. "What we're seeing here at the Arsenal is a new level of excellence and productivity."
Sen. Durbin and Rep. Cheri Bustos, (D) Illinois, personally delivered the good news inside the Arsenal's factory on Tuesday.
The project symbolizes teamwork between private businesses and a skilled workforce.
"Others are seeing the fact that these workers, right here, understand what on-time, on-budget means," said Rep. Bustos.
Arsenal workers put finishing touches on the Humvees.
They build and attach a protective shield over the ambulance.
Local workmanship is put to the test in all 50 states responding to disasters and medical emergencies.
While ambulances prove their value in the field, this project also helps the Arsenal to stay viable during challenging times.
The Arsenal has dropped nearly 600 factory jobs during the last five years. That leaves about 1,100 at JMTC.
"Let's start right here at home," said Sen. Durbin. "Let's make sure that everybody who lives in the Quad Cities area knows that this Rock Island Arsenal is a 21st Century asset."
That makes the ambulance project even more important.
"Not only does it give the workforce some benefit, it also gives us some benefits in terms of being able to drive down cost," Young said.
It's a life-saving deal that's helping to save the Arsenal's factory.