Without Fedex ...

IT WOULD BE a big surprise if Fedex’s application for tax breaks to help the company expand its flight training operations here received a thumbs- down from the EDGE board.

The company is planning to invest $141.8 million to consolidate and expand its flight-training simulator operations in Memphis.

Fedex is seeking a 13-year tax break on new manufacturing machinery and equipment, and a sixyear tax break on real property improvements to retain about 333 jobs. Those jobs pay an average of $76,707 a year. The body that considers tax breaks — the Economic Development Growth Engine board — is scheduled to review the application today.

Skeptics might ask why Fedex needs tax breaks. A close look at the numbers shows that Memphis and Shelby County will come out ahead on the deal in the long term.

What’s really important in this news is that the request is another affirmation of Fedex’s commitment to keep Memphis as its main operations base. The company could have made the consolidation happen elsewhere.

Fedex has been a major economic engine here for jobs, ancillary businesses, and civic and charitable activities.

Without Fedex, Memphis International Airport would not be the second-largest air cargo gateway in the world. Without Fedex there would be no talk of Memphis being an aerotropolis.

From an economic standpoint, without Fedex, Memphis would be in serious economic straits.

That statement isn’t pandering. It’s reality.

Members of The Commercial Appeal’s editorial board are Chris Peck, S uzanne Kerr and Jerome Wright. The editorial board’s citizen members are Amy M. Doville, Joann Massey, Jim Mcgehee and Frank A. Thomas. Contact the editorial board at (901) 529-2319.