One of the nation's most popular AR-style rifle manufacturers announced Jan. 24 it plans to launch a five-year, $20 million program to expand its manufacturing and customer service operations near Savannah, Ga.

Daniel Defense, which spurred controversy in December over a Super Bowl ad that was rejected by the National Football League over its ban on gun advertising, says it plans to build out its facilities in Bryan County, Ga., to 100,000 square feet "bringing every part of the manufacturing process in-house, which will in turn give us ultimate control over quality assurance."

The move comes on the heels of a similar expansion in Ridgeland, S.C., in 2012, where Daniel Defense built a 90,000 square foot facility.

The company is a rising star in the corporate world, making Inc. Magazine's list of the nation's fastest growing companies in 2013 for the second year in a row. Founded by Marty Daniel and his wife Cindy in 2002 and winning several military contracts for M4 carbine rail systems, the company has since expanded to over 250 employees and last year sold about 32,000 rifles to both military and civilian customers.

"Maintaining the level of growth we've experienced over the last 10 years requires a long term vision, continued momentum, while maintaining the level of quality expected by our customers," Daniel said in a statement announcing the 5-year expansion.

The move is expected to bring in about 120 new jobs to the Black Creek, Ga., facility and Daniel Defense says it plans to employ nearly 300 in Georgia by 2018.

For more information on Daniel Defense, contact them at 800-554-GUNS or visit them on the web at www.danieldefense.com.