A company that is developing a new passenger jet is interested in building a manufacturing and production facility for the aircraft in Jacksonville and is seeking city incentives for the project, according to the city Office of Economic Development.
On May 12, the OED is scheduled to request permission from the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee to submit legislation to execute a development agreement with the company, code-named Project Bluebird.
A staff summary of the project says the company is conducting research and development on its jet in another state and is “at the stage of finalizing it for manufacturing operations.”
The summary says the company plans to invest more than $430 million “within the fence” at Cecil Airport to build its aircraft there. After initially working out of an existing hangar, the company will build a manufacturing facility within five years on 80 to 100 acres.
The company says it will employ a workforce of more than 1,200 in the next 15 years at an average wage, not including benefits, of $90,000. Total annual payroll will be more than $36 million.
The factory will have $140 million of equipment and finishings, which are taxable by the city.
The city would provide a 20-year, 75% Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of up to $20 million on the $140 million of tangible personal property at the facility, such as machinery and office equipment.
A REV grant is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development or property enhancement.
The OED staff summary says the project has a return on investment of $1.24 per $1 of incentives.
In addition, the summary says the state of Florida is considering providing incentives through its Corporate Income Tax Credit and High Impact Performance Incentive Grant programs.
The summary says the company is being recruited by several other states.
Bluebird service availability
According to a March 27 service availability request to city utility JEA, Project Bluebird is planning 270,000 square feet of improvements northeast of Cecil Airport, including the construction of a manufacturing facility, hangar space and an office building.
Jacksonville-based Kimley-Horn is the civil engineer.
The initial review was disapproved March 28, citing the need for additional information. There have been no further updates to the application.
Resembles Natilus
Bluebird’s project description resembles one being developed by San Diego aircraft manufacturer startup Natilus.
Natilus “designs, builds, tests and sells hyper-efficient blended wing body aircraft for both cargo and passenger applications.”
The company announced in March it was starting the process of selecting the site of its first U.S. manufacturing facility.
Natilus said the facility will produce its regional freighter Kona.
It said the 250,000-square-foot facility will have the production capacity for 60 Kona aircraft annually and employ 300 full-time workers across manufacturing, aerospace, propulsion and test engineering and other roles.
Natilus said it is “prioritizing geographic regions in the U.S. with strong state and local incentive programs and facilities with adequate runway length, airspace clearance for testing, training and selloff facilities and proximity to suppliers and transportation.”
Jacksonville Aviation Authority representatives decline to comment, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
Natilus also said it is looking at the U.S., UAE, India and Saudi Arabia for a second 2.5 million-square-foot facility to produce its Horizon passenger aircraft. It said that facility would employ about 3,000 workers when it comes online in the early 2030s.
This story has been updated to add more information about Project Bluebird and about Natilus.
Staff Writer J. Brooks Terry contributed to this report.