From Deseret News archives:
Utah lands an aircraft service firm
Company to bring Provo 650 new jobs over next 15 years
Officials from Duncan Aviation Inc. and state and local government, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., announced the project at an afternoon news conference at the Provo Municipal Airport.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board earlier in the day approved a tax-credit incentive of nearly $6.7 million for the project, which will include building a 320,000-square-foot aircraft-maintenance hanger, paint hanger and office facility at the airport.
The company's third full-service maintenance facility for business jet aircraft — the others are in Battle Creek, Mich., and at its headquarters in Lincoln, Neb. — represents a $58 million capital investment over 15 years. Construction is expected to begin next spring, and when the facility opens in August 2010, it will provide airframe, engine, interior completions, exterior paint and avionics installation services for business aircraft from around the world.
The family-owned company has more than 20 avionics and seven engine locations throughout the United States. Overall, the company has about 2,100 employees. About 50 employees will move from each of the two other full-service facilities to Provo.
Speaking via audio/video hookup in Lincoln during the news conference, company president Aaron C. Hilkemann said Utah was selected after an "extensive" site search that began 2 1/2 years ago.
"We know full well, Aaron, that you could have gone anywhere," Huntsman told him as a crowd of nearly 100 watched. "And in today's very competitive marketplace, we are particularly grateful that when those who think that all is lost in today's economic environment, that we can stand up here with you and announce 650 jobs over the next several years, which says a lot about you ... but I want you to know it says a lot about our people, too."
Several speakers — including a few who had visited the Battle Creek facility — lauded Duncan Aviation as "an outstanding company," "a great company" and a "rock-solid" operation.
Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said the company treats its employees well and that the company had conducted detailed research of the area, with certain representatives looking at schools, religious matters, housing and recreation. "They were as thorough as anyone we've ever met with," Billings said.
Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer of Economic Development Corp. of Utah, said that Utah had battled Albuquerque, N.M., for the new plant.
"If we were out in the world trying to pick a company that we would want to bring to Utah, Duncan would be at the top of the list," Edwards told Hilkemann.
