Sanford, Maine Airport

Maybe if we had an RFP out on the vacant parcels we could attract an Oxford Aviation also??? Here is a story about Sanford (not to be confused with Sanford-Orlando):



In the shadow of a vacant World War II-era hanger, Oxford Aviation officials and state and local leaders turned over a few shovelfuls of earth Wednesday in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the company's Sanford Jet Division. Pending final approval of a $1.2 million federal grant, which officials expect within the next two weeks, Oxford Aviation is planning to build a $10 million, 93,000-square-foot facility at Sanford Regional Airport.

More than 200 people will work there, Oxford President Jim Horowitz said. Gov. John Baldacci, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen and other speakers at the groundbreaking all praised Horowitz for deciding to locate the facility in Sanford. "Jim cares about Maine and he wanted this to happen in Maine," Baldacci said. "Oxford Aviation is a success story." Oxford Aviation currently has 65 employees at its Oxford headquarters, where workers refurbish small planes.

But the runway there is too small to accommodate larger planes, and the 6,000-foot landing strip at Sanford will allow the company to take on orders for medium and large planes.
The company will also expand its business of finishing planes -- adding colors, designs and registration numbers to brand new planes. Under an earlier agreement, Sanford town officials said they would return property taxes of up to $109,000 per year, and assist in securing the $1.2 million federal grant, which will be matched by city funds.

"We're going to get the grant, I have no doubt about that," said Sanford Economic Affairs Developer Les Stevens. "Our challenge is to get it as quickly as possible." Horowitz said he considered locating the new facility elsewhere in Maine or another state, but decided on Sanford largely because of support from local and state officials. He also noted that the Sanford Regional Airport is a Pine Tree Zone.

These enterprise zones offer businesses a package of tax benefits for every new job created. Oxford Aviation has also received $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the state. Construction will begin after the demolition of the old hanger, which will take place after the town receives approval of the federal grant, company and city officials said Wednesday