by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Most of Northeast Florida’s economic development experts and a handful of local, state and federal elected officials were at Cecil Commerce Center Friday to help Boeing officially open its new 125,000 square-foot structural repair facility.
Boeing, which has over 150 employees at Cecil, will move its Mesa, Ariz. repair facility and bring about 60 new jobs to Jacksonville.
“Boeing is one of the great companies in aviation and aerospace and this is a great facility with room to expand,” said Jerry Mallot, vice president of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. “They have found the environment excellent at Cecil for their company and we hope their is more growth as we go along.”
Dale Simms, senior operating manager for Boeing’s Cecil facility, said the new facility will combine the maintenance and repair of the plane’s structure and the technological advances needed for the interior.
“We are proud of what we do here and very proud of the people that do the job,” said Simms. “We can handle planes of all ages and conditions which means we can fix damaged aircraft and install new technology.”
In addition to opening the new facility, Boeing also marked its 10th year at Cecil Commerce
Center. U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, whose Dist. 6 includes Cecil, said Jacksonville was very fortunate to have a company such as Boeing.
“The Boeing Co. is a major factor in the strength of the economy in this area,” said Stearns, adding last year the company worked on 481 aircraft, which is up from 274 in 2008. “Boeing remains in the forefront of civil aviation. It is entirely appropriate that Boeing maintains a strong presence at Cecil.”
Mayor John Peyton called Cecil the area’s “next job haven” and talked about the plans for growth at the entire Commerce Center.
“This is an amazing piece of property,” he said. “It is the consequence of probably the worst decision the Navy every made (to close the base). The work Boeing does is the stamp of approval for other companies looking to do business here.”
Peyton said Cecil’s value lies in its size, airport and proximity to area interstates and railroads.
“Those are all reasons I think Cecil has a very, very bright future,” said Peyton. “This facility is the future and this workforce is the future. You are going to see a lot more effort put into this facility.”
Jacksonville Aviation Authority Executive Director Steve Grossman called Boeing JAA’s “anchor tenant” because “it does everything right.” He also said the Aviation Authority will work to assure both Cecil Field and Cecil Commerce Center are a success.
“Failure here at Cecil Commerce Center is not an option,” said Grossman. “This closed military base is one of the most successful closed facilities in the country. This sends a message to the nation: Jacksonville and Cecil Commerce Center are open for business and we want people to come here.”
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