The Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce reports that Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services and the Clinton County Port Authority have completed the necessary arrangements to proceed with the financing and construction of the new $15.5 million hangar facility with creation of 259 new jobs.

After nearly two years of careful planning, construction of the facility is scheduled to begin in January and will take 12-14 months. Preparation of the construction site is already underway.

When finished, the 100,000-square-foot facility will be capable of housing multiple aircraft as large as a Boeing 747-400 or Boeing 777-300ER. The hangar will be owned by the Port Authority and occupied by Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services (AMES).

AMES President Brady Templeton said "This is a complex project that required extensive coordination between state and local entities, both public and private."

The Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce noted that this is "good news to cap off 2012."

The project, negotiated with JobsOhio, Air Transport Services Group, Inc., AMES, and the Port Authority, represents not only the new hangar, but the creation of 259 new jobs.

In addition to the State of Ohio financing package of over $14 million that was negotiated, the Port Authority agreed to additional financial incentives and other donations amounting to just over $3 million, from its own resources.

Local grants from the City of Wilmington, Clinton County and the Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation for this project amounted to $525,000.

Port Authority Chairman David Hockaday said, "In the spirit of cooperation we have been able to negotiate this complex deal with the Company and the State of Ohio. We are especially grateful to the City, the County, the Wilmington CIC and the Wilmington City School District for their contributions to this project. The creation of 259 new jobs by AMES will provide a much needed boost to our local economy." 

See more in the Chamber's News Release