Cleveland aircraft maintenance firm will open Sanford branch
An aircraft maintenance company is opening a new location near Orlando Sanford International Airport, with plans to employ up to 75 people in the next few years.
Constant Aviation LLC is seeking incentives from Florida, Sanford and Seminole County totaling $375,000, or $5,000 per job created. The money would be awarded only if the company provides proof it created the jobs, under the state’s Qualified Target Income program.
Sanford and Seminole County are each kicking in $37,500. The company has pledged to invest $1.9 million in new facilities and equipment and to offer an average salary of $50,109.
Enterprise Florida, the embattled state agency that coordinates state incentive dollars, considers the company to fit its model for target incomes because the average salary is higher than Seminole’s average of $43,573.
The Seminole County Commission is set to vote on the incentives for Constant at its regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Constant Aviation says it has locations at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cuyahoga County Airport, Birmingham International Airport and Las Vegas International Airport.
It specializes in airframe maintenance, engine repair maintenance, major repairs, avionics, interior refurbishment, parts distribution, accessory and composite services.
In related news, the City of Orlando is considering a new incentive deal for a Los Angelesbased tour bus company planning to expand and bring a new main office to Orlando, adding 47 jobs over four years.
The company is seeking incentive dollars for the expansion, through the city and the Qualified Target Income program coordinated by Enterprise Florida.
American Tours International, which has an office at 5787 Vineland Road near Universal Orlando resort, provides tour bus and travel services to visitors from other countries.
The company said it’s the only American-owned inbound tour operator in North America that plans and coordinates group tours. It also offers a website for online bookings.
The company says it will add the 47 new jobs by 2021, paying an average annual wage of $50,472 plus benefits, which is higher than the 2014 Orange County annual wage. However, the statistics didn’t say what the median salary would be for those positions.
ATI’s total capital investment is estimated to be about $300,000 in construction and equipment. The company has claimed it is also considering Nevada for expansion.
According to ATI’s website, it has offices in Honolulu, New York and Beijing, besides Los Angeles and Orlando.
For that deal, the state would provide a total of $235,000 under the QTI program, which includes the city’s local financial support. The city’s local match would be 20 percent, or $47,000 as an incentive over a six-year period.
City documents indicate it believes there’s a likelihood of continued job growth and investment well beyond the six years.
Funding for the state’s incentives programs has been subject to budget battles in committee debates leading up to the 2017 legislative session, which starts March 7.