Two weeks after Anduril Industries announced plans for a $1 billion, 5-million-square-foot production facility near Rickenbacker airport, more development details have emerged.

Why it matters: The autonomous weapons manufacturer will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in state incentives.

• In return, the company promises to create thousands of local jobs over the next decade at the site dubbed "Arsenal-1."

Follow the money: Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development announced Monday a 2.594 percent, 30-year Job Creation Tax Credit that will save Anduril an estimated $450 million.

• That's the second-largest tax credit of its kind in Ohio history, just shy of the $475 million package awarded to Intel.
• Pickaway County will also request $70 million from the state's All Ohio Future Fund to help with site prep.

The fine print: The incentives deal is still being finalized, but a Department of Development spokesperson confirmed that Anduril has committed to creating 4,008 full-time jobs by the end of 2035 that will generate over $530 million in new annual payroll.

• Anduril pledges to invest $910 million toward the site by the end of 2035, and will be required to maintain operations there until 2058.
• The company will employ a few hundred people to start and gradually ramp up production.

Between the lines: The deal was based on a "very conservative calculation" that Arsenal-1 will be a net positive, says J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, the state's private economic development corporation.

• Nauseef tells Axios that 98% of JobsOhio incentive deals comply and meet commitments.

How it works: Funding and reimbursement are doled out at specific milestones "so we don't overexpose ourselves upfront," Nauseef tells Axios.

• State and private partners are willing to "find ways to help them be successful," but will pursue legal action if those benchmarks aren't hit.
• "We will not be taken advantage of," Nauseef says.

Anduril spent a year examining 400 sites across the Lower 48 states before narrowing the venue to Ohio, Arizona and Texas.

What they found: In Columbus, the company gains a unique mix of amenities and geographical bonuses along with the $450 million welcome package.

• Proximity to Rickenbacker offers runway space certified for military cargo and airlift, plus broader access to the region's defense, aerospace, national security and Air Force industry.
• Columbus' centrally located supply chain has better ground, rail and air access than most areas of the country.
• The Intel project paid dividends — Ohio leaders' "history of working with companies that they're bringing here for large projects" also contributed, SVP of strategy Zach Mears tells Axios.

Zoom in: Anduril's campus will mostly sit south of Rickenbacker and just east of a group of nearby warehouses and distribution centers, per a map shared with Axios.

Between the lines: Intel's semiconductor factory is taking many years to build, but Anduril expects a much quicker production timeline.

• The company is motivated to move quickly because of tangible commitments.
• It already has "committed orders" and "clear production contracts that are driving delivery and timeliness," Mears tells us.

What's next: Mears says the company aims to start delivering its Fury autonomous air vehicle out of an existing building as early as July 2026.

• Next will come Barracuda cruise missiles, Roadrunner autonomous twin turbojet vehicles and more.
• Production is expected to increase from dozens in the first few years to eventually thousands over the next decade.

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Even as companies like AEP and JPMorgan Chase call workers back to the office, our region's vacant office space continues to climb.

State of play: Office vacancy is at an all-time high of 20.4% across the country's top 50 metro areas, per a new Moody's report.

• Columbus is even higher at 21.3%.

⛸️ Let it go at Disney on Ice, featuring characters from "Frozen" and "Encanto" at Nationwide Arena.

• Showtimes all weekend long. $17-90.

🔥 Laugh out loud during "Hot Staff" at Shadowbox Live, a sizzling sketch comedy and music show highlighting the theater's greatest hits.

• 7:30pm tonight (nearly sold out) and 2pm Sunday. $52-54.

🎪 Take the family to the Columbus Winter Carnival, featuring kids activities and characters from "Bluey" and "Paw Patrol" at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.

• 11am-5pm Saturday, 4100 Columbia St., Hilliard. Free, but tickets ($5-6) or passes ($15-22) are required for many activities.

👨‍🍳 Prepare a Chinese feast and celebrate the Lunar New Year with a group dining experience at The Kitchen.

• 5pm Saturday, 231 E Livingston Ave. $100.

🎵 Call dibs on tickets to Kelsea Ballerini at the Schottenstein Center.

• 7pm Saturday. Resale tickets started around $120 as of yesterday.

🐍 Slither over to the Columbus Reptile Expo.

• 10am-3pm Sunday. 3300 Refugee Road. $5, cash only. Kids under 11 free!

Looking to spice things up for Valentine's Day? Bring your date to COSI.

• ... yes, seriously!

The intrigue: The science center is embracing the adults-only aspect of its monthly "after dark" series with a "uniquely steamy" February event.

• From "animal mating behaviors to human attraction and relationships," The Science of Sex will "explore the fascinating biology behind intimacy."
• It promises "hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations."

If you go: 7-10pm Feb. 13. $20 online, $30 at the door.

Stop by: Other upcoming "after dark" events include a Renaissance Fair in March, then Cocktails and Chemistry in April.