News Release
Fredericton Airport Official Says First Client for Aerospace, Defence Park Practically a 'Slam Dunk'
August 5, 2009
A 500-acre aerospace and defence park on the grounds of the Fredericton International Airport is getting closer to reality.
An unnamed Canadian firm expected to do business with Canadian Forces Base Gagetown visited Fredericton two weeks ago and David Innes, CEO, of the Fredericton International Airport Authority, said that businesses is practically a "slam dunk" to become the park's first major client.
Innes and Doug Motty, CEO of Enterprise Fredericton, have been recruiting businesses for the proposed development for three years.
In the past both have said a commitment from one major client would allow them to break ground.
"In their present configuration, they might be a bit small (to justify breaking ground), but I think they would grow into one that would be significant enough and I very much expect that in the not too distant future that they would be of that size," Innes said. "I think it would be a great company to start with."
Innes met officials from the firm while on an Atlantic Canada Opportunties Agency (ACOA) trade mission to the Paris Air Show last month and said discussions have been progressing quickly.
He said it's one of several firms he's been in contact with recently.
The aerospace and defence park has already undergone environmental assessments and preliminary design work and is essentially shovel ready.
"We are getting close," he said. "You know when you're there and you don't have it until you have it, but I can say the number of opportunities that are around now seems to me to be greater than the number of opportunities that have been available in the past.
Motty, who travelled with Innes to the Paris Air Show and has partnered with him on the aerospace and defence park project, said the firm could be announced as soon as the fall and will start out as a small to medium sized operation, but could expand.
"The sense we have is that they are very interested in establishing an operation here in the Fredericton area and it could potentially grow into something quite significant," he said.
"They are not a world recognized client like Boeing or Airbus, but this particular client does build on the infrastructure we have in our community and the strengths of the community around our education capabilities and our connectivity and technology firms, so it is really a good fit for the community."
Motty added that he and Innes have also been in contact with several "bigger projects" and said announcements on their tenancy at the park could be coming soon.
"Some of the larger ones that have been ongoing for the last number of years could come on this fall or next spring," he said.
By Chris Fox, Daily Gleaner