NEWPORT- An old chemical weapons plant is sparking new business in Vermillion county. A military plant is moving into Newport, Indiana and bringing 5-hundred jobs with it. Telic Corp is going to employ people all over Vermilion county. They're calling it the dream they've been waiting for.
 "My mom and dad actually met working at the depot in the 50's so its been a major employer," said Larry Bemis, he's lived in Newport all of his life. So when Newport Chemical Depot closed last year Bemis watched the town go right with it. School enrollment dropped and people moved out of the city.
Thursday's announcement is putting people back to work, "We promised the base commander that we would look at the folks who already work here first as the first employees that we'd like to offer projects too," said Telic Corp president, Frank Minton. He's talking about new jobs from plant workers to scientists. Some positions paying nearly 40- dollars an hour.
Bemis thinks it's good news. "There are a number of houses for sale hopefully some of those for sale signs will be taken down out front and sold," he said.
Behind the fence that wraps around the old Depot, the remains of chemical weapons are gone.  For years it was a worry. This new business is a lot less risk. That could be another draw to town, the deadly nerve agent kept there for decades is all cleaned up.
The new plant will make military equipment like decoy flares and grenade parts.
People like Larry Bemis hope it makes an explosion in population, "Hopefully its just a start of something bigger and better."