Gov. Nixon announces 400-job expansion at Sabreliner plant in Perryville

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- An expansion project creating 400 new jobs at Sabreliner Corp, will receive $5 million in state economic development incentives, Gov. Jay Nixon announced at the company's facility at the Perryville Municipal Airport on Friday.

Work will start within the next month on a new 27,000-square-foot hangar to house expanded stripping and painting operations. It will be built by Robinson Construction of Perryville and should be completed by April.

"These economic incentives show what local and state government can do to improve quality of life and the economy when we work together," said Pat Finneran, president of Sabreliner Corp.

A total of $6.7 million will be invested by Sabreliner in the project, which will add jobs during the next five years.

Sabreliner has been awarded $3.7 million in state tax credits, a $1 million community development block grant and $273,000 in recruitment assistance and energy and sales tax exemptions.

Nixon said the expansion at Sabreliner Corp. is the latest in a series of signs that Missouri's economy is on the move.

"Is it as fast as we want? Not yet. But are we seeing progress? You bet we are," he told about 250 Sabreliner employees gathered for the announcement.

Nixon said the economic incentive package will provide a measurable return on investment for taxpayers.

"Missouri workers make profits for people who invest in the Show Me State," Nixon said. "They show up early, they stay late, they're goal-oriented, and they embrace training in the technologies of the future."

Sabreliner has been a fixture in the Perryville community since beginning operations in 1954, at that time as a division of Rockwell International. In 1983, the Sabreliner division was purchased by Holmes Lamoreaux, who still owns the company.

During the past 18 months, Sabreliner's business has been expanding as a result of government contracts for aircraft refurbishing.

"Due to the economy, the U.S. government is not buying new aircraft, so they're fixing what they have and taking care of it longer," said Jim Meier, senior vice president at Sabreliner.

The company's Perryville facility works on U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters, U.S. Air Force C-21 Learjets, U.S. Navy T-39 jet trainers and propeller-driven trainers used by the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines.

The new hangar will allow Sabreliner to paint more planes in less time and give needed space to work on larger aircraft carrying up to 20 passengers, Meier said.

Although the Perryville Municipal Airport is outside the city, near McBride, it is owned by the city.

Perryville Mayor Debbie Gahan said Sabreliner's expansion is the fulfillment of a dream.

"This gives the young people of Perry County who go out and get a good education the opportunity to have a good job to come home to," Gahan said.

Robinson Construction will also add about 10 temporary jobs to assist with the construction of the new hangar.

In addition to its Perryville facility, Sabreliner has a parts refurbishing operation in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and a parts manufacturing site in St. Mary, Mo. Its corporate headquarters are in St. Louis. It recently sold an operation in Independence, Kan.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

1390 Highway H, Perryville, MO