Plane-maker eyes Jacksonville for 300 jobs

[thelakelander]

The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a multimillion dollar incentives package for Alenia North America to build a cargo plane assembly plant at Cecil Commerce Center on the Westside.

The proposal would provide $8.6 million in city and state incentives. The city’s portion of that amount would be $1.5 million.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority also stands ready to provide assistance with preparing the site and leasing land.

If the JEDC board approves the proposal, it would go next to the Jacksonville City Council for its review.

Other potential locations of the cargo plane assembly plant are Meridian, Miss., Houston, and sites in South Carolina, according to a JEDC summary of the project.

Alenia would fill the 300 jobs over several years through December 2012. The average wage of the new jobs would be about $55,000, according to JEDC.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/08/25/plane-maker-eyes-jacksonville-for-300-jobs/

[Jason]

Now that makes a TON of sence for Cecil.  Lets lock 'em in and bring 'em home to Jax.  Keeping an influx of descent paying jobs and further utilizing Cecil can only mean good things for the region in this period of economic downturn.

[thelakelander]

Other potential locations of the cargo plane assembly plant are Meridian, Miss., Houston, and sites in South Carolina, according to a JEDC summary of the project.

Alenia would fill the 300 jobs over several years through December 2012. The average wage of the new jobs would be about $55,000, according to JEDC.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/08/25/plane-maker-eyes-jacksonville-for-300-jobs/

Why is the TU reporting this like its a new project?  This is the same company those who opposed the Navy coming back to Cecil, claimed was on its way.  Articles from over a year ago stated they had already chosen Cecil for their new plant.  Now this article claims Cecil is one of several sites that they are considering.

June 13, 2007

Cargo planes coming to Cecil

The new Joint Cargo Aircraft contract will bring hundreds of jobs.

By TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS, The Times-Union

A consortium of companies tapped to build the military's next generation cargo plane will assemble the craft in Jacksonville, bringing large-scale aviation manufacturing to the region for the first time.The plant at Cecil Field, the former military base on the Westside, will employ about 300 people. As well as the direct jobs created, the new sector - one long sought after by the city's aviation industry, which has heretofore contained only maintenance and refurbishing jobs - is expected to bring with it a range of spin-off jobs and ancillary companies.

The Department of Defense announced late Wednesday that it was awarding the contract for the new Joint Cargo Aircraft to a group led by L-3 Communication Holdings that includes Boeing Co. and Italian aircraft manufacturer subsidiary Alenia North America. The contract, worth more than $2 billion over five years, is to supply at least 78 C-27J Spartans to the Army and Air Force.

Both branches of the military will use the twin-engine turboprop for transport missions and other short-range flights. The plane is designed to work in areas that can't be served by modern airfields.

Some steps have to be taken before the project takes flight, including allocating money, issuing incentives and building facilities.

The consortium is in the midst of building the first two C-27Js at Alenia facilities in Italy, but company spokesman Ben Stone said the Jacksonville facility will begin to be brought on line this year. The first planes assembled here should roll out in 2010, he said. As production ramps up, the contract calls for the companies to deliver 16 planes in 2010 and 23 in 2011.

"Cecil Field presented many very, very good attributes," Stone said about the site selection. "You have a highly skilled workforce, great infrastructure and motivated state and federal representatives. You welcomed us with open arms into that community."

Negotiations are still under way with regard to where at Cecil the work will be done. Boeing leases three hangars at the airfield, including two that are now empty, but the companies might also build new facilities.

The companies are also negotiating with city and state officials over possible incentive packages.

Jacksonville's role in the project is important because of the political clout of the region. Because the Joint Cargo Aircraft fills a narrow niche, said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at think tank Lexington Institute who has closely followed the JCA project, it could fall prey to other projects taking priority.

"Building the plane in Jacksonville is absolutely essential to providing a political base to keep the program on track," Thompson said. "Without the Jacksonville assembly site, it would be nearly impossible for L3 to assure the program's future in Congress."

That political muscle will be necessary in coming days, as the Pentagon goes to Congress for the money to actually fund the purchase, a step that will have to be done each year.

"There still needs to be dollars appropriated," said Michael Stewart, spokesman for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, which owns Cecil. "There's just a few more hurdles. This is a good announcement. It's a good step in the right direction."

And it's a step, said Mayor John Peyton, that other companies are looking to take.

"I think there's more good news to come. I think this is a beginning," he said. "There's been a lot of interest in Cecil in the past few months. We're hopeful there will be more announcements to come."

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061407/bus_176939175.shtml

Glad to see the jet manufacturer is still on board, but suprised to see that they are considering other locations, after being a lock to come a few years ago.  Now where is the Bridgestone and Walmart Distribution hubs that were locks to come to Cecil back in 2006?

[civil42806]

I believe what happened was that Boeing pulled out of the project.  Originally Boeing was to construct a new hangar or attempt to modify the old VFA-106 hangar.  With Boeing out of the picture Alenia is having to foot the bill themselves.  Thats my understanding, if anyone else has heard something different let us know.

[BridgeTroll]

The proposal would provide $8.6 million in city and state incentives. The city’s portion of that amount would be $1.5 million.

Is this the "corporate welfare" I keep hearing about?

[civil42806]

Yes it is and unfortunately thats the way the game is played today.  Boeing is still gaming the Seattle area to this day.

[thelakelander]

I remember Boeing pulling out of the project.  However, I'm suprised this is being reported as a new project (they skipped the history of it) or that Alenia was not fully committed to Jax.

[BridgeTroll]

Yes it is and unfortunately thats the way the game is played today.  Boeing is still gaming the Seattle area to this day.

I assume then that cities and states are bidding against each other to attract the companies...?

[civil42806]

Absolutely, aircraft manufacturing plants opportunities don't come along every day.  Same deal with the auto industry.  Cities actively bid against one another.  The question is can you expect reasonable benefits and will it aid in attracting other similar companies.  Everyone laughed when alabama broke the bank to attract the Mercedes plant, I thought they massively overpaid as well.  But now the auto industry is booming around Birmingham, toyota has engine plant there and they have had big spin offs. 

[BridgeTroll]

Absolutely, aircraft manufacturing plants opportunities don't come along every day.  Same deal with the auto industry.  Cities actively bid against one another.  The question is can you expect reasonable benefits and will it aid in attracting other similar companies.  Everyone laughed when alabama broke the bank to attract the Mercedes plant, I thought they massively overpaid as well.  But now the auto industry is booming around Birmingham, toyota has engine plant there and they have had big spin offs. 

Makes sense.  Then "corporate welfare" is voluntary.  Cities and states can choose to not pay incentives.  Unless there is another angle I am unaware of there really is not any reason to be angry about "corporate welfare"... 

[civil42806]

Missed this back in october, apparently its finally sealed and delivered

http://www.flgov.com/release/10291

Good news for Cecil

[Johnny]

Yeah, looks like this is a bit late... directly from Alenia's website...

Regarding the announcement of the proposed C-27J Spartan production facility at Cecil Field Commerce Center in Jacksonville, FL:

Since we have announced our intention to open this facility, we have received numerous inquiries as to when we will begin the hiring process.  Please understand that we still need to build the facility and we do not anticipate beginning operations until early in 2010. 

We anticipate positions becoming available in mid to late 2009, at which time we will post formal job announcements in this space and begin accepting applications. 

We are also currently planning on holding a job fair which should be announced next year, utilizing employment agencies such as WorkSource Jacksonville, and advertising positions through the local Jacksonville and northeast Florida media outlets. 

Thank you again for your interest and please check back to obtain any formal job positions that may be listed.

http://www.aleniana.com/employment

[Johnny]

The plane they will be building...

http://www.c-27j.com/

[CMG22]

Construction of the taxiway extension and of hangars is already underway.

[Ocklawaha]

"IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME..."



This is fantastic news for Jacksonville and it's corporate future. BRAVO to the Airport, Industrial, and Development team that brought this company "HOME". This opens a whole new field of employment for our area, which has to be the richest in Aviation Electronics in the nation. (due to the NAS JAX School).

Now that I have heaped on the Laurels, here is my recomendation (as if I had any power) as a Transportation Consultant.



Get that old Navy Railroad cleared, regraded, relaid, up and running.

Open the old railroad and push it from the hanger areas (all heavy industry) to CSX, and continue NORTH with a new line and right-of-way until it reaches the NORFOLK SOUTHERN.

Keep the new railroad a Terminal Company or Shortline, so that it remains neutral FOREVER. City owned works just fine at The City Of Prineville, Oregon.



With an RFP, create a massive Transfer Facility/bulk cargo/multi-modal center. Rail to Air to Truck, plus storage, warehousing, and every concieveable unloading and/or holding device. A full service inland port extension. (BTW - There are at least 50 companies that specialize in this business who would jump on this chance.)



Lease the operations of the railroad to a regional shortline operator, again a field we are "rich" in:

Pinsley Shortlines, HQ Plymouth, Florida, A large family of shortlines, operates to a point just south of Gainesville as the Florida Northern.

Rail America, HQ Jacksonville, Florida, A large family of railroad properties including the FEC.

WATCO, Repair and Contract Shops located in Jacksonville, Florida, A large family of shortline railroads.

Geenese and Wyoming, Operates The Talleyrand Terminal Railroad, part of a large shortline family.

St. Marys Railroad, HQ St. Mary's Georgia, part of the Service Rail Group.

First Coast Railroad, HQ Fernandina Beach, part of Rail Link, a family of shortlines.

Let's get er done!

OCKLAWAHA