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NORWALK, Conn. – More than 100 employees of a Norwalk-based business have reason to be concerned: the company is apparently moving to Kentucky.
Southern Air, an air cargo carrier, is being enticed to establish a home base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport by a $2.7 million tax incentive to DHL Express, its partner, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. On Tuesday, the Kenton County Airport Board approved a five-year lease on office space at the airport for Southern Air, if the company moves there, according to the Business Courier and Cincinnati.com. The lease is contingent on a deal between Southern Air and Kentucky.
Neither Mayor Richard Moccia nor Marketing and Business Development Director Tad Diesel returned a 1:40 p.m. email looking for comment. The office of Sen. Jim Himes has not yet replied to a 5 p.m. email. State Sen. Bob Duff said he would look into it.
A message was also left with Southern Air marketing representative.
Southern Air operates a fleet of B777Fs, 747-400BCFs and B747-200s and is a portfolio company of Oak Hill Capital Partners, according to its website. It "provides long-term ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance), air cargo solutions, on-demand charters and humanitarian relief flights." The Norwalk office is described as Southern Air's global headquarters and communications hub.
Southern Air provides aircraft to DHL, according to the Business Courier.
Comments (3)
You CAN'T blame the Mayor for loss of jobs where companies leave Norwalk but I think there may be another loss I'm not sure here.
Southern Air owns about a dozen planes listed here in Norwalk out of about 65 planes reg in our city over 3,000 in Ct .Does the city take in any money for those planes their not small ones like the ones the Blooms own or the one Vanderbuilt owns they are Boeings with large capacities.Is the city going to lose revenue on these planes if so maybe the company can keep them reg here and still move whats a 100 employees in the scheme of things.I'm not sure if revenue from planes is an issue if it is we are talking big money they are big planes
East Norwalk has been hard hit with Norden but it was a matter of time,didn't East Norwalk Electric just install some big stuff up by Norden hope it wasn't to supply power to Norden park they may not need as much power for a empty building.Does Norwalk make money on whats in Norden park aside from the employees?Equipment inside could be a money item for the city again I don't know.
Working to create jobs isn't easy you first have to offer things that makes a city desirable I'm sure with Southern Air it was hotels close by and great on and off the Merritt anything else Norwalk has to offer is expensive.As you drive down Rt 1 in Westport you have the strip malls with plenty of free parking its safe well lit and yes very friendly.Not for nothing the large commuter parking lots all along rt 1 are filled with cars business is booming and its nice,may not have those fancy lights or great art like Norwalk but its simply safe and friendly.Whats nice if you live there you shop there its not filled with bars and empty store fronts or trash trucks going by every 5 minutes.
Too bad Norwalk didn't take that 95 lot and other lots around it and make an airport maybe that was Norwalk last chance to develope a large area .Maybe city carting can take over Norden place with Southern Air an airport that has a trash depot easy on and off 95 and no traffic for East Norwalk and create more jobs.Looking at the park from the air seems there are great runways to be made.
how am I doing? I'm trying real hard to supply fact and suggest some alternatives in Dicks obvious absence ,I havn't seen any comments from him yet
Don't forget FREE parking on Water street next to Sono Seafood for Sono
odd how I was an object of complaint but today it seems City Carting on Meadow street used a scent to make the area smell great unless they took in trash from a perfume factory who knows maybe Dave mentioned the postings here,Who cares it smelled great today wonder whats up?
now back to the boss..... Dick de Planes whats up now we lose money when they leave?
Thank You Mayor Moccia for making Norwalk Business friendly..
Question Has Moccia did anything correct???
This on the heels of the 300 jobs leaving with Norden....