FIRM EYES AIRPORT FOR PLANT SITE; CAPE VIES WITH TWO OTHER CITIES

A Canadian company might establish an airplane manufacturing plant at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Zenair of Canada of Toronto wants to move its manufacturing operations to the United States. The company manufacturers single-engine, two-seater and training aircraft.

Zenair has narrowed the site selection to three cities, including Cape Girardeau, with a final decision by the end of the week, city and economic development officials said.

"I feel very positive that we are the front-runner," said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

At Robinson's urging, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday night to issue up to $8.5 million in industrial revenue bonds to pay for construction of a building and the purchase of equipment should Zenair locate here.

The company would pay off the bonds, said Robinson, and the city won't have any liability.

Robinson said Zenair would own the building but lease the land from the city.

Zenair is considering building on a two- to three-acre tract at the airport.

The company wants to build a plant that includes 40,000-square-foot of manufacturing space and another 4,000 square feet of office space, Robinson said.

It would initially employ 50 people with plans to expand its workforce to more than 100, he said.

The manufacturing jobs would pay $12 to $14 an hour, council members said.

In addition to the revenue bonds, the firm would benefit from a 50 percent abatement on real estate taxes because the site is in an enterprise zone. It also would qualify for state tax credits, Robinson said.

Zenair initially had settled on another site, but that fell through, Robinson said.

Mayor Al Spradling III said Zenair would be the first industry on the airport grounds and could spark other industries to do the same.

Airport Manager Bruce Loy welcomed the possibility of landing Zenair.

"It is a huge advantage for the airport in a lot of ways," he told council members at the council's study session Monday.

Loy said flight testing, resulting from the establishment of an aircraft plant, would generate fuel sales and increase the number of take-offs and landings at the airport.

If the city lands the aircraft manufacturer, it could ultimately help the city secure state funding to extend city water to the airport, Robinson said. The airport in northern Scott County is served by well water.