Published: May 03, 2008 10:48 pm         

Additional companies commit to airport’s new industrial park

Two new companies have committed to Raleigh County Memorial Airport’s second industrial park, according to airport manager Tom Cochran, bringing the total occupancy to six.

“We continue to see new companies moving in and existing companies expanding since construction of the second industrial park started in March 2005,” Cochran said. “Despite harsh economic conditions, we’re still seeing growth.”

Cochran said the total investment into the second industrial park to date is about $8.3 million.

“The total return investment back into the second park is about $16.5 million by companies that have committed to locating here,” he said.

The latest two companies to make commitments to the second park are FedEx and The Boyd Group, an oil and gas well equipment repair firm based in Indiana.

“They have purchased 5 1/2 acres in the second park to be in the midst of the oil and gas market in this area,” Cochran explained. “They will be able to service West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky from this location.”

Cochran said the company will create about 20 jobs once it opens the new location.

Cochran said FedEx will consolidate its ground operations under one roof on 7.84 acres in the second park.

“They are building about a 36,000-square-foot building that will create roughly 36 jobs,” he said. “This location will also give them quicker access to the interstate.”

Cochran said the new FedEx facility should be open by Sept. 1.

“FedEx Express already has a facility in the original industrial park that handles air freight,” Cochran added. “We are very happy they selected the second park for this new facility.”

Cochran says the primary economic development goal of the airport’s industrial parks is to create good-paying jobs.

“About 146 new jobs have been created with the companies in the second park alone,” he said.

Something different from the original, existing industrial park is the parcels in the second park are much larger.

“These parcels can be designed to handle larger companies,” he said. “These sites can be 20 to 30 acres or more.”

Cochran said the second park continues to be developed.

“We have advertised for bids to do paving to extend the road through the second park,” he said. “We want to extend the road to the west side of the airport and come out between the Mine Academy and the Shell station and tie back into Airport Road.”

Cochran said the goal is to eventually have roadways that circle the entire airport and industrial parks.

“We will continue to market the second park to aviation industry businesses,” Cochran said. “This park will have direct access to the primary runway at the airport. We want to get more businesses that want to utilize the airport.”

Cochran says rising fuel costs are one thing slowing growth at the airport.

“It’s a major concern, but it could hinder our growth efforts if prices continue to rise,” he said. “However, we have still been able to attract companies to the new industrial park and I think it’s validation of the park’s quality and great news for the local economy, particularly as new jobs will be created.”

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com