A local manufacturer hit hard by layoffs and job losses makes a very different kind of announcement- a plan to retool, and most importantly, re-hire. RTD Manufacturing was so dependent on auto business, they were forced to make some tough decisions and lay off more than half of their workforce. Now they're looking to diversify by doing work for the feds. RTD Manufacturing would rather cut steel than jobs.

Bryant Ramsey, RTD Manufacturing President: "With the economy taking a downturn, people quit buying cars and we quit getting orders."

At one point the company had 56 employees, now it's down to 12.

Bryant Ramsey: "It's the type of decision that will keep you awake at night."

President Bryant Ramsey hopes he won't have to make those decisions anymore.

Bryant Ramsey: "We're here to announce the result and really the beginning of a very collaborative relationship."

RTD teamed up with an engineering firm, one that just won a contract with the US Army. It's worth up to 430-million dollars. The engineering firm will design the parts and they'll be built at RTD.

Rep. Mark Schauer, (D) district 7: "I think this is going to signal a lot of good high-tech, high-paying manufacturing jobs here in mid-Michigan."

Machines at RTD manufacturing could be making parts for the US Military within the next few weeks. What they're going to make is classified.

Bryant Ramsey: "We have as good of a chance of anybody, if not an advantage over other companies to bring as much work to our team as possible which in turn would come here to Jackson and create jobs."

Getting back to cutting steel, putting people back to work. In addition to the tough economic times, the company's founder, Bryant Ramsey's dad, died unexpectedly leaving him in charge of the company. Ramsey says this announcement would have made his dad very proud.