NEWPORT, Ind. (AP) - A military contractor has announced plans to start up operations at the Army's Newport Chemical Depot in western Indiana that could bring up to 500 jobs.

Telic Corp. officials said Thursday they planned to open an administrative, manufacturing and development center at the depot
next year.

Telic is the first business to announce plans for the depot site, which for decades produced and stored a deadly nerve agent. The depot is winding down operations after destruction of its VX stockpile was completed last year.

Telic says it provides security, mechanical and engineering support services for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

A local reuse board has been working on a plan to open about half the Newport depot's 7,100 acres to potential business development.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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