TITLE
Title
APPROVE NC DEPT. OF COMMERCE RURAL BUILDING REUSE GRANT APPLICATION FOR EASTERN AIR EXPRESS, LLC.
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Heather Schaffer, Manager of Special Projects
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BACKGROUND
Background
Eastern Air Express, LLC (company) is an aviation company specializing in domestic and international charter passenger and cargo flight services, currently headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company is planning to relocate Eastern Air Express LLC’s operations from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in Kansas City, Missouri, to Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Currently, Eastern Air Express, LLC employes three hundred and sixty-nine (369) full-time employees. Fifty-eight (58) of these are based in Kansas City, MO, consisting of five (5) mechanics and fifty-three (53) office staff who support operations and administrative functions. This project would relocate the full Kansas City team to Greensboro. The company also has fifty-four (54) full-time and sixty-five (65) part-time employees in Miami, FL., one (1) full-time employee in Youngstown, OH, and seven (7) full-time employees in Killen, TX. and seven (7) full-time employees who are currently located in Greensboro, NC. In addition, the company plans to expand its maintenance workforce in Greensboro by approximately thirty (30) mechanics. The proposed new headcount in Greensboro, NC would be between 99 and 122 jobs. The company is projected to create fifty (50) new jobs over the next two (2) years with an average annual wage of $101,836.07 and pays 64% of employee health benefits. The average Guilford County private sector wage (2025) is $60,195 as published by the NC Dept. of Commerce.
Eastern Air Express, LLC. is applying for a NC Dept. of Commerce Building Reuse and Infrastructure grant in the amount of up to $500,000 and is seeking to upfit and lease an approx. 84,227 sq. ft. building located at 7306 W Market St Greensboro for a long-term lease with the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority. The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority is the owner of the property. Any improvements made on the property with the Building Reuse Grant, should it be approved, would remain on the property for use by future lessees if Eastern Air Express, LLC vacated the lease.
The total project (construction) cost is $3,900,449.93. The grant, if approved, will provide the necessary square footage for anticipated growth of the company in support of flight and fleet maintenance operations. The project site is a hangar facility with dedicated inventory storage space and is currently in deteriorating condition. The hangar is located on PTI and holds strategic value due to its airside access. It accommodates a single narrow-body aircraft with a single bay configuration. The facility will play a key role in supporting aviation operations and has the potential to significantly enhance service capabilities once renovated. The property renovation will include roof repair or replacement, construction of new office space, repair of existing hangar door, repaving and expansion of an existing parking lot, installation of new retaining walls, reconstruction of walkways leading to a side entrance, complete repainting of the interior and exterior of the building. The project will enhance the functionality, safety, and aesthetic appeal of the property while extending its usable space and improving overall infrastructure.
Eligible applicants for Building Reuse Grants are units of local government located in either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county, or a rural census tract in a Tier 3 county. Guilford County is a Tier 2 county.
EDPNC requires a 5 percent local match for building reuse grants. The maximum amount required from Guilford County would be $25,000 if the NC Department of Commerce approved the requested maximum grant of $500,000. If the NC Department of Commerce approves the grant, funds would be in the form of pass-through funding (a forgivable loan) which then would reimburse the property owner upon performance review and verification by the State. This Request also includes adoption, in substantial form, of the associated resolution in support of this building reuse grant application.
Approval of this request by the State also establishes a project budget for anticipated revenue from funding sources.
No County budget action is necessary at this point because the grant is still pending approval by the State. County staff will monitor the progress and approval of this application as well as construction work and will bring an appropriate budget amendment at a future time.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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RESOLUTION
Resolution
WHEREAS, The Building Reuse Program, under the Rural Grants/Programs Section of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, provides grants to local governments;
WHEREAS, Funding is available for the renovation or expansion of existing vacant buildings that will lead to the creation of new, full-time jobs;
WHEREAS, Eastern Air Express, LLC is a company that desires to locate in Guilford County and occupy an existing vacant facility (owned by the Airport Authority) in Guilford County at 7306 W Market St., Greensboro, NC;
WHEREAS, Eastern Air Express, LLC., wishes to seek Department of Commerce building reuse grant funds for the project;
WHEREAS, Guilford County is supporting this application to the NC Department of Commerce, contingent upon the submittal to the NC Department of Commerce, of a complete application for the project;
WHEREAS, The program requires a unit of local government (the County) to be the Applicant; and
WHEREAS, Guilford County finds that it is in its best interest to support Eastern Air Express, LLC’s upfit project of the building by applying for these grant funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF GUILFORD COUNTY RESOLVES:
Section 1. That Guilford County supports the submission of an application to the NC Department of Commerce for a Rural Building Reuse grant to assist Eastern Air Express, LLC to upfit a vacant facility located at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC and authorizes the Chairman or his Designee to sign such application.
Section 2. That the amount of the grant application will be $500,000.
Section 3. That Guilford County agrees to the required local match of five (5) percent of the actual approved grant amount, up to $25,000, should the NC Department of Commerce approve the Building Reuse Grant for the property located at 7306 W Market St Greensboro, NC.
Section 4. That this Resolution shall be effective upon adoption; and contingent upon necessary authorizations received by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority .
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve NC Dept. of Commerce Rural Building Reuse Grant Application for Eastern Air Express, LLC and adopt accompanying resolution (above) in substantial form; approval contingent upon necessary authorizations received by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
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