Federal Budget includes money for Anniston defense contractor

The federal budget that cleared Congress on Thursday could soon be pumping millions of dollars into Anniston's defense industry, helping ensure steady work instead of layoffs and cutbacks the industry faced last year.  According to Sen. Richard Shelby, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the $1.1 trillion appropriations bill Congress sent to the president’s desk Thursday contains $135 million in work for General Dynamics Land Systems, much of which would be slated for the company's Anniston site. Meanwhile, Anniston Army Depot officials expect steady work and the hiring of more than 200 workers this year.  Of the money appropriated to General Dynamics, $45 million is allocated for upgrades of Stryker combat vehicles. General Dynamics in Anniston, which has a public-private partnership with the depot, focused mainly on Stryker upgrade work last year, giving the vehicles more protection against improvised explosive devices.  The proposed budget also would appropriate $90 million to General Dynamics for repair and upgrade work for M1 Abrams tanks. General Dynamics spokesman Peter Keating said if approved, much of that money would likely be spent in General Dynamics' Ohio facility, but the depot would also get some work.  The depot employs almost 3,000 workers who repair, modify and upgrade combat vehicles and small arms for the military, including Abrams tanks.