AVIATION and aerospace  The aviation industry is fast becoming a major economic cluster in Jacksonville. The expansive network of airports and available specialized talent pool are just some of the reasons companies like Boeing, FlightStar, Alenia North America, Northrop Grumman and Kaman Aerospace have chosen to call Northeast Florida home.
- Northeast Florida is home to Cecil Commerce Center, a premier aviation development site that encompasses nearly 17,000 acres, more than 2,000 acres of which is developable land. More than $120 million has been spent on infrastructure improvements and site readiness. Cecil boasts three 8,000-foot runways and one 12,500-foot runway, which is capable of accommodating the largest aircraft currently operating in the world today.
- Along with Cecil Commerce Center, the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Craig airport (CRG) and Herlong Airport (HEG) make up the rest of the Jacksonville Airport System. Each entity is strategically located throughout the Jacksonville community to provide the best access to aviation and aerospace technology and capabilities. Additionally, Northeast Florida boasts other regional airports, including St. Augustine Airport, Keystone Heights Airport and the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport.
- Northeast Florida has an abundant workforce and numerous educational and training programs designed to give employees the specialized skills that your company needs. Of the more than 750,000 people in the region’s workforce, approximately 10,000 are employed in the aviation and aerospace industry sectors.
- Northeast Florida is home to a number of colleges and universities that offer comprehensive programs that prepare students with the specialized skills and knowledge needed in the aviation industry. These include Florida State College’s Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Jacksonville University's Aeronautics program and the top-ranked University of North Florida’s logistics management program.
- Here’s why you should locate your business here:
- Business-friendly tax climate
- 16.7 million square feet of industrial space announced or under construction since 2005
- Competitive and customized incentive packages
- Lowest cost of living of any major Florida metro area
- Young, dynamic workforce with a median age of 37 — almost equal to the national average
Recent Expansions or Relocations in Aviation/Aerospace
| Company Name | Type of Business | Projected New Jobs | Date | | The Boeing Company | Aircraft maintenance, repair & overhaul | 60 | 05/01/2009 | | Alenia North America, Inc. | Aircraft manufacturing | 300 | 8/26/2008 | | First Coast Aerospace Inc. | Aircraft Maintenance & Overhaul | 12 | 10/2/2007 | | Airborne Tactical Advantage Company | Military aviation training services | 60 | 8/24/2007 | | Capital Avionics | Avionics manufacturer | 30 | 7/24/2007 | | Unison Industries | Aviation manufacturer | 100 | 6/21/2007 | | Jet Blue | New airline service | 16 | 5/2/2006 | | FlightStar Aircraft Services, Inc. | Aircraft Overhaul, Maintenance, & Repair | 150 | 2/1/2006 | | Sikorsky Field Operations Center | Defense aviation contractor - MRO | 63 | 8/8/2005 | | British Airways | International Airline | 240 | 4/28/2005 | | Holland-Sheltair Aviation Group | Developer of Aviation Hangars and Office space | 40 | 6/1/2004 | | Aerogroup, Inc. | Tactical air services for foreign militaries | 152 | 4/29/2004 |
Companies locating in Northeast Florida find significant opportunities for diversification and continued growth, particularly in the areas of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); manufacturing; air cargo; and assembly. Nowhere else will you find the level of commitment to the development and expansion of your industry that you’ll find here.
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