BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — Journalists are invited to a ceremony marking the official transfer of a 1.6-million-square-foot facility to NASA’s Stennis Space Center, positioning the south Mississippi site for years of major expansion.

The ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Participants include Sen. Thad Cochran and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver. News media representatives will have an interview opportunity following the ceremony and a tour of Stennis’ engine assembly facility.

In 2009, Stennis Space Center was designated a “project-ready” site for high-tech businesses seeking new locations. It was the first Mississippi site to gain the technology park certification, which identifies locations that are ready for use and relatively risk-free for businesses. Sites must meet high criteria in such areas as availability of infrastructure, utilities, transportation and facilities.

With acquisition of the former Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant facilities, NASA will increase the total facility space at Stennis by about 33 percent. A dozen employers, including Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne, the Government Printing Office and the Department of Energy already are located in portions of the space. More companies and government tenants are expected.

For more information about Stennis, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/stennis