Aircraft manufacturer seeks city incentives for $430 million production facility

[jaxoNOLE]

I just hope they were planning on building that new runway for them either way.

New runway?  Cecil already has 4 that are hardly used.  I don't see them adding anymore.

I note on the current aerial on Google Maps, they actually parked a bunch of planes on one of the runways.

It's a new taxiway, $22.5M, according to JDR. (Another funding source that remains TBD.)

[Jax_Developer]

Thanks jaxoNOLE for the correction. Yes a $22.5M taxiway extension jaxlongtimer. Here is the summary of incentives from JDR: (https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/may/19/otto-aviation-is-project-bluebird-the-company-is-seeking-to-build-jet-in-jacksonville/)

The JAA incentive package

The JAA board voted 7-0 to approve its incentive package, which comprises: 

• A $22.5 million investment by JAA for site preparation and design/construction to extend taxiway E-1 to the property where Otto plans to build its facility.

• Abatements on rent and common area maintenance fees on Hangar 825, worth $3.73 million.

• Rent credits on Hangar 825, worth $1.5 million.

• Abatements on rent and common area maintenance on the development site for the new plant, worth $7.18 million.

City gave them a REV grant which like most of the incentives don't matter if they never build. The taxiway however is a pretty massive investment on something speculative.

[thelakelander]

Well, if they fail, I guess the space can be used by a defense contractor or air cargo company.

[Jax_Developer]

Very true. Hoping that this was a way to justify the expansion of Cecil's footprint regardless of use.

[thelakelander]

^We took the same approach with JTA's UTC garage in LaVilla. Basically forced design changes so the building could be more easily adaptively reused when the project ultimately fails.