CRANE — Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation will join the growing list of technology and engineering firms at WestGate @ Crane Technology Park later this year, according to Dale Ankrom, managing partner of the WestGate @ Crane Development Co. LLC.

Navmar, a Pennsylvania-based national defense contractor, will enter the Indiana market with 15 new engineering jobs in November, occupying 7,000 square feet of new construction in the technology park by the end of the year.

Navmar will employ up to 20 people with the intent of expanding throughout 2009. The company currently services Department of Defense contracts through Naval Air Systems Command.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Navmar as the company opens its first Indiana location at the WestGate, and look forward to helping the company expand its Indiana-based operations over the coming years,” said Ankrom.

Construction began earlier this year for three new mixed-use buildings at WestGate to provide expansion opportunities for commercial defense contractors associated with the $2 billion Naval Surface Warfare Center. By early 2009, WestGate should offer about 90,000 square feet of new mixed-use facilities.

To date, the WestGate @ Crane Development Co. has invested about $9 million in private equity in the park.

“The WestGate represents a strategic opportunity for the creation of high-impact jobs and regional growth for south central and southwest Indiana,” said Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman. “The park’s potential to spur broad economic development across the region is again underscored by attracting Navmar to Indiana.”

Navmar is bringing the kind of jobs to WestGate that developers have hoped for since the inception of the park, said Ron Arnold, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation Director.

“This is one of many business we anticipate announcing in the next several months,” said Arnold. “I take my hat off to all three counties for working together to make this happen.”

Daviess, Martin and Greene counties have combined efforts to create the tech park.

“The U.S. Navy is one of our largest customers, and being close to NSWC Crane helps us to be of maximum service,” said Mike Kelley, director of administration for Navmar in Pennsylvania. “Our new WestGate presence will be our first in Indiana, and we’re very happy to locate there.”

Current tenants at WestGate include Fortune 500 companies EG&G and SAIC, as well as the headquarters of Crane Federal Credit Union. Since the park’s inception, defense and other companies have made commitments for about 250 jobs at WestGate.