A proposed Extra Aircraft assembly facility in Montrose, Colorado, was given the final green light Wednesday.
At a public hearing of the Montrose County Commissioners, the Extra Aircraft assembly plant was approved by a unanimous vote of the county’s three commissioners. Extra officials said they and the commissioners worked together to restructure the originally proposed incentives to respond to suggestions made during the due diligence process. Extra aircraft also obtained the support of the Montrose Economic Development Corp., the City of Montrose, the State of Colorado and Region 10 to bring more than 200 jobs to the region.
The deal hit a snag late last month, when the county manager said the county could not provide part of the promised incentive package, instead pointing the Economic Development Corp. as needing to put up the promised cash. Those problems were smoothed over, and the county has now agreed to build and lease a 25,000-square-foot facility on eight acres of airport property. Included in the approved arrangement is the agreement to build additional square footage as Extra’s sales demand increases over time.
Ken Keith, owner of Extra aircraft, said after the final vote was approved: “This is a great day for both Extra Aircraft and the citizens of Montrose. We have almost 400 employment applications from the community and this is great news for those people who have been waiting for this process to come to fruition. We have all worked together to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Now we are excited to start the process of opening up in Montrose.”
The Montrose facility will be an assembly plant, with the fuselage and wings manufactured at Extra’s factory in Dinslaken, Germany.
For more information: ExtraAircraft.com
