Blountville, TN. – The Tri-Cities Airport Authority (TCAA) has been awarded a $4.1 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) Aeronautics Economic Development Fund to further the development of its Aerospace Park. The purpose of the Fund is to advance job creation and investment opportunities in aerospace industry, which helps Tennessee’s airports continue to be important economic development engines for their regions and the state. “The Aerospace Park is an important economic development project for our region, and we greatly appreciate the commitment Governor Haslam and TDOT Commissioner Schroer have made to its success through the award of this grant,” said Jon Smith, TCAA chairman. When combined with local funding, the $4.1 million grant will allow a significant amount of site development work to be completed, making the Aerospace Park more attractive to aerospace industry prospects. TCAA will use $8.5 million of funding provided by the city and

SULLIVAN COUNTY, TN (WJHL) – Two local cities have agreed to help fund a new aerospace development in Sullivan County. Tuesday night, the Bristol, TN City Council and Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman voted to join Sullivan County and Johnson City in funding the Aerospace Park project. RELATED: Sullivan County commissioners vote in favor of Aerospace Park investment Aerospace Park is a 160-acre site next to the Tri-Cities Airport. It’s a partnership project between the Tri-Cities and Washington and Sullivan counties. Officials say it could bring up to two thousand jobs to the area. Kingsport voted to spend about one and a half a million dollars on the project. Bristol, TN Mayor Jack Young tweeted the City Council had also approved funding for Aerospace Park. In September, the Sullivan County Commission voted to invest over $2 million in the project. At least 20 to 30 acres has already been graded at

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. - Plans for an aerospace industrial park at Tri-Cities Airport took a major step forward today. Sullivan County commissioners voted today to invest more than $2 million in the project. It becomes the first signer of an interlocal financial agreement. The development is expected to bring as many as 2,000 high-paying jobs to the region. The land, 160 acres with direct airfield access, could soon be prime for industrial development. That is as landowner, Tri-Cities Airport Authority, continues to get signatures of funding partners it needs for the new aerospace park. "You have to be ready to attract these companies. You have to be ready with your workforce, with your site, with your infrastructure," Executive director Patrick Wilson said. So far, 20-30 acres have been graded. An additional 10 are set to be cleared beginning next month, and more may possible with additional state grants. Major support

An idea nearly 20 years in the making, Aerospace Park is a 160 acre site adjacent to Tri-Cities Airport. Over the past 15 years, more than $23 million in infrastructure work has been done at or near the property — including site grading construction of an access road and the installation of utilities. KINGSPORT — Aerospace Park has been called one the most significant, regional economic development initiatives in our lifetime. Airport officials claim the project could bring as many as 2,000 jobs to the park, with salaries significantly higher than the typical manufacturing job in our area. Aerospace Park is an idea nearly 20 years in the making. It’s a 160-acre site adjacent to the Tri-Cities Airport that local officials envision becoming a hub for aerospace industries, such as engine and airframe manufacturing, delivery and training centers and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. A great deal of

BLOUNTVILLE — The next phase of work is beginning on Tri-Cities Airport’s Aerospace Park. Construction of an aircraft ramp is expected to begin in the fall. It’s slated to take a year to complete at a cost of $3.5 million. Airport officials say the park will go hand in hand with the airport and nearby Northeast State Community College’s aviation program. Tri-Cities Airport Executive Director Patrick Wilson estimates the Aerospace Park could create between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs. He expects detailed design of the park to begin in the fall and grading of the land to start next spring. “The opportunity for quality advanced manufacturing-type jobs is the biggest goal,” said Wilson of development of the park. The site is adjacent to the airport in Blountville. Twenty-one acres of the future 160-acre park have been graded and prepped as a cost-savings incentive to more easily attract companies to build there.

BRISTOL - A couple of weeks after touring the future site of a Tri-Cities aerospace park, Harwell is continuing to support local leaders’ efforts to gain state funding to help fund the economic initiative. On Friday, Harwell wrote a letter to the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission urging its members to seriously consider the Tri-Cities Airport’s Aerospace Park for a major state grant. Officials hope to use a mix of state and local monies to grade 140 acres of land adjoining the airport, eventually making it capable of housing aerospace and advance manufacturing industries. In her letter, Harwell wrote, “The vision for the area is impressive, and I believe it will provide a strong economic boost to the region. (The) Aerospace Park is a prime location available for immediate development. As a Select Tennessee Certified Site, the shovel-ready building site minimizes risk for investors, has utilities already available and requires minimal site preparation.

(WJHL) – Speaker of the House Beth Harwell made a stop in the Tri-Cities on Tuesday. While she said Tuesday’s visit was just to enjoy the different parades around the area, she said she came to the region yesterday to see the new aerospace park project at Tri-Cities Airport. News Channel 11 asked Harwell if she had made her decision yet to run for Tennessee’s next governor, and she said she’s “leaning that way.” “I’m just getting my team together and just wanted to continue to reach out to folks and lay some good groundwork,” Harwell said. Harwell said she will make her final decision this month. SOURCE: http://wjhl.com/2017/07/04/speaker-of-the-house-harwell-makes-stop-in-tri-cities-says-decision-about-governor-run-coming-this-month/

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — Tri-Cities Airport’s $18 million Aerospace Park could be ready for aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies to begin building in two years, based on an Airport Authority decision Thursday. The future 160-acre park, adjacent to the airport, will be graded and prepped as a cost savings incentive to more easily attract companies to build there. Tri-Cities Airport officials say it will go hand in hand with not only the airport but with Northeast State Community College’s aviation program. The authority unanimously approved conducting an $82,000 environmental assessment of 139 acres of the land, which will take six to eight months. Airport Executive Director Patrick Wilson expects the study to begin in June. He said 95 percent of the cost will be paid for with state grant money.  After the study is complete, the land will be graded and made site-ready, so all businesses will have to do is

A legislative template is now in place to finance the Tri-Cities Airport’s 160-acre Aerospace Park, and five local governments interested in a return on their investments are now budgeting funding for Northeast Tennessee’s next burgeoning industry. Both houses of the General Assembly unanimously approved the move, which clears the way for unprecedented aviation-related economic development in the region. The new law allows the Tri-Cities Airport Authority to borrow money and issue revenue bonds. It also grants Washington and Sullivan counties, as well as Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport the legal wherewithal to guarantee the principal and interest on the bonds are paid in full. “The park is probably the best economic opportunity the region has seen in a long time,” said Johnson City’s City Manager Pete Peterson. “There is a potential to create from 1,500 to 2,000 new, high-paying jobs, and it could augment the existing aerospace industry that’s already