Airport pursues shell building
Oct 19, 2007
By CHRISTIAN ALEXANDERSEN
Herald - Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- The Tri-State Airport Authority and a local development agency are teaming up to pursue more jobs in the region.
The airport board on Thursday tentatively approved a plan for construction of a 30,000-square-foot shell building on airport land to house aviation-related companies.
The shell building would be put up by the Huntington Area Development Council, which wants to lease 4 to 5 acres behind the runway for the structure.
Currently, three aviation-related companies are interested in renting the building, said Jerry McDonald, president of HADCO.
"Success breeds success," he said. "Now that the airport is on everyone's radar screen, we all have an excellent opportunity to bring in more aviation-related jobs and more money into the economy."
He was referring to the airport's sharp increase in passengers this year. With the addition of Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier, to the Tri-State Airport, the facility has had more passengers during the first eight months of this year than in all of 2006. It is adding more parking and lengthening its runway.
The next step is for HADCO to develop a formal lease proposal for approval by the airport authority and federal aviation officials.
McDonald said HADCO, a nonprofit organization, would propose a $1-a-year land lease with the airport.
HADCO will assume all the financial responsibility for the project, including the $1.2 million for construction costs and land analysis. Depending on the space's use, McDonald said the structural plans can be modified to accommodate companies who need anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of work space.
Four other HADCO shell buildings in Cabell and Wayne counties are now home to plants for Harbor Steel, based in Michigan; Allevard Springs of France; Okuno International of Japan; and Caprewest Inc. of Spain. Another shell building now under construction is along Frazier Lane off W.Va. 2, east of Huntington, and will have 100,000 square feet.
Although the airport will not receive any money from HADCO, airport director Larry Salyers said the addition of the shell building will bring in more aviation-related business and jobs to the community. HADCO has also stipulated, Salyers said, that any new businesses will not compete with the airport. Companies who will occupy the space will not be allowed to provide fuel, lubricants or aircraft accessories, Salyers and McDonald said.
While the companies interested in the shell building specialize in aviation-related maintenance, Salyers said the authority is interested in the further development of other unused land -- about 17-18 acres would remain -- by a variety of industries.
Once the first structure is built, he said, development opportunities are bound follow.
