by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“We are working aggressively to attract businesses and this is the type of industry we think can make Cecil Commerce Center a success,” said Mayor John Peyton Tuesday.
His comment followed the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s approval of a tax incentive and grant package that would bring Alenia North America’s new aircraft assembly plant to Jacksonville by 2010.
The company is a subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica, the largest Italian aerospace company. It has revenues of approximately $3 billion and a workforce in Europe and the U.S. totaling more than 10,500 workers. The proposed facility would perform final assembly on the C-27J Spartan cargo airplane which will be used by the U.S. Army and Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft Program.
Alenia has committed to add 300 new full-time jobs to the local market at an average wage of $55,000, more than 150 percent of the state average wage. The proposal also commits a capital investment of $104 million including $42 million in new private capital and approximately $60 million in construction costs.
The City will offer $1.5 million in Qualified Target Industry (QTI) and other tax credits. The State of Florida will contribute $7.1 million including tax incentives, a $2 million contribution from the Economic Development Transportation Road Fund and $1 million from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority also contributed to the project, with $6 million in site development and infrastructure assistance and $1.4 million in utility infrastructure assistance. In addition JAA offered a 23-year land lease with no rent for the first three years.
Benjamin Stone, Alenia North America chief of staff, said Cecil Commerce Center provides several advantages over other sites considered in addition to the incentive package.
“Since it was previously a military airfield, there isn’t as much that needs to be done to the infrastructure,” he said. “More important is the historical presence of the military in Jacksonville and that there are already experienced workers in the area.”
The company plans to assemble 200 of the twin-engine turboprop cargo aircraft at Cecil Commerce Center as part of an initial order from the U.S. Army and Air Force. Alenia has already sold more than 100 units worldwide that were assembled at its factory in Italy.
Council President Ronnie Fussell revealed that the final negotiations took place at the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during Tropical Storm Fay. The mayor, JEDC staff and Gov. Charlie Crist met Alenia representatives at the EOC to work out details of the proposal. He said landing an aircraft manufacturer like Alenia could be a turning point for Cecil Commerce Center’s future.
“This could be like our ‘field of dreams.’ When we build it, many more will come,” said Fussell.
When Peyton asked Fussell how soon he thinks the proposal might come up for a vote of the full Council, Fussell said his intention is to move through the process quickly.
“We might be able to get a Council vote about the same time the budget is approved,” said Peyton.
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