Infrastructure that lends itself to logistical needs is a strong asset that former military air bases can offer communities and expanding companies.
Take, for instance, Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Since being closed in 1999, the former Cecil Field Naval Air Station has become a vibrant magnet for businesses, particularly those that would benefit from access to interstates 75 and 95, the deepwater Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT), proximity to rail and the airport at the complex.
Cecil Commerce Center is comprised of more than 17,000 acres, with an extensive infrastructure to support new business growth. About 4,800 acres of land has been set aside for light industrial expansion. In addition, several parcels of land, totaling about 800 acres, are available for heavy industrial use.
The airport at Cecil Commerce Center consists of two sets of parallel runways. The north/south runways consist of one runway that is 12,500 feet and one that is 8,000 feet. The east/west runways are each 8,000 feet in length.
Tire Manufacturer Takes Advantage of Logistics
Logistical advantages were critical to Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, which said in June that it selected Cecil Commerce Center North for a 1 million square foot distribution center. The project, the first private development project at Cecil Commerce Center North, represents a $44 million investment.
“The proximity to the major interstates, combined with the accessibility of JAXPORT, makes this the ideal location for us,” said Nelson Miller, director of logistics for Bridgestone Firestone.
The company expects to begin construction by the end of the year and anticipates being operational in June.
The project will create about 250 jobs within 36 months of completion of the facility and will also indirectly result in the creation of more than 200 jobs at JAXPORT.
In anticipation of future expansion plans, Flightstar Aircraft Services Inc. will add up to 150 new jobs at its Cecil Commerce Center location.
Flightstar, a provider of heavy maintenance and modifications for aircraft, plans to fill openings for aircraft mechanics, and sheet metal and avionics technicians, as well as various support staff positions.
The additions will help Flightstar handle new contracts and address the anticipated growth of the company, which is in the planning stages of an expansion project, said Jerry Hernandez, president of Flightstar.
Communities Turn BRAC into a Positive
The Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative has put numerous communities around the country in the position of turning former military installations, including air bases, into private sector development projects.
After the initial shock of being told that its base is being closed wears off, a community’s real work begins.
The good news is that with focused and collaborative leadership, visionary thinking and a little time, former military installations can be transformed into thriving commerce centers that can pave the way for a bright economic future.
Two communities in New York have turned former air bases into thriving developments for expanding companies.
Multina USA Inc., a supplier of assembled interior components to major contractors in the mass transportation industry, plans to move to a 76,000 square foot building at the Plattsburgh, N.Y., Airbase, which was part of the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.
The project is expected to retain 59 jobs and create 15 jobs by January 2008.
In consideration of its commitment to Plattsburgh, Multina USA, a subsidiary of Quebec-based Multina Inc., is eligible to apply to Empire State Development for a $90,000 loan to help cover the cost of leasing the facility.
The Plattsburgh Airbase, which is located about 20 miles from the U.S.-Canadian border, is a 5,000-acre, multi-modal facility. The complex sits in a New York state Empire Zone and a foreign trade zone, which afford companies extra financial incentives.
The Griffiss Business and Technology Park, the site of the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y., is planning for future expansion. Earlier this year, the Griffiss Local Development Corp. approved funding for a 23,000 square foot expansion of the Griffiss Institute building.
The two-story addition will be built near the existing 20,000 square foot building. It is estimated that construction, which is expected to begin next year, will cost about $2.5 million.
The new building will include space for a business accelerator program, which will assist startup high-tech companies to launch their operations.
Go to INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHTS to read more about other news and articles about military base reuse.
Means the article is accessible only to our magazine subscribers.
