{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-attends-iten-defense-groundbreaking", "Joyce Attends Iten Defense Groundbreaking", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "OH", "David P. Joyce", "J000295", "joyce.house.gov", "joyce", "https://joyce.house.gov/press", "scraper", "SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP, OH \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) took part in a groundbreaking ceremony with Iten Defense and Lakeland The Construction Group, marking the start of construction on Iten Defense\u2019s new research, development, and manufacturing facility. Headquartered in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Iten Defense specializes in manufacturing composite armor products, including pressed backing material used for body armor.\n\nThe project builds on federal investments supported by Congressman Joyce. Iten Defense has received Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding to advance ballistic protection capabilities through the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, and the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act.\n\n\u201cIten Defense is a top innovator, a critical part of our defense industrial base, and its success speaks to the talent of Ohio\u2019s workforce,\u201d said Congressman Joyce. \u201cAs a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I\u2019ve been proud to fight for the federal investment that makes projects like this possible. This new research, development, and manufacturing facility will develop the lighter, stronger ballistic protection our warfighters need to stay ahead of our adversaries.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday marks an important milestone for Iten Defense and our community as we continue building an armor center of excellence in Northeast Ohio. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Congressman Joyce, the State of Ohio, Ashtabula County, and Saybrook Township as we\u2019ve experienced nothing but the utmost support in facilitating our expansion plans. The new facility and the equipment we\u2019ll be installing will allow us to continue our tradition of producing products that save lives,\u201d said Damon Walsh, CEO of Iten Defense.\n\n\u201cAt Lakeland The Construction Group, we believe great projects begin with great partnerships. We\u2019re honored by Iten Defense\u2019s trust and proud to serve as the design-build partner on a project that will strengthen manufacturing and create lasting opportunities in Northeast Ohio,\u201d said Fahim F. Gemayel, President of Lakeland The Construction Group.\n\nBackground:\n\nIten Defense has built a strong reputation in the defense industry through decades of work in advanced protection technologies. The company\u2019s growth reflects Ohio\u2019s strong manufacturing and defense industry capabilities. The facility is being designed and constructed by Lakeland The Construction Group, a Northeast Ohio-based contractor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-attends-iten-defense-groundbreaking"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.8290539048612118, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}