$13 Million Investment
50 New Jobs In First Year Of Operation
Commissioners Approve $100,000 Tax Incentive Grant
Blue Line Aviation LLC has unveiled plans to build a state of the art aviation facility and headquarters at the Johnston Regional Airport on Swift Creek Road near Smithfield.
The announcement was made during Monday’s meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners who approved a $100,000 tax incentive grant for the new company.
The $13 million project will include a state-of-the-art hangar and premier flight school for both private and commercial aviation.
“Johnston Regional Airport is a significant economic development asset in the heart of Johnston County and the greater Triangle region. Blue Line Aviation’s decision to choose our airport for their aviation complex is a reinforcement of the economic asset this airport is for Johnston County,” said Ken Starling, chairman of the Johnston County Airport Authority. “We are very pleased to have Blue Line Aviation partner with us as we work to develop and expand the potential at JNX the premier location for economic development, business travel and now aviation training.”
“Blue Line is thrilled to become a more intricate part of the Johnston County Airport, the community at-large, and call it home. We believe that JNX is the best location in the region for the expansion of our business, new offerings while serving clients locally and globally. We look forward to a long-term partnership with the JNX Airport Authority to continue to develop the airport into a gateway to the world for members of the community,” said Trey Walters, president and CEO of Blue Line Aviation. “We are equally excited about developing programs and partnerships within Johnston County, like the Johnston County Public Schools, and the local community college.”
“We are very excited to partner with Mr. Trey Walters and the team at Blue Line Aviation LLC. With strong local support in Johnston County for business growth, and aeronautical facilities that are second to none, JNX is the perfect location for Blue Line to build their new Aviation Complex. The public private/partnership announced here today between Blue Line and the Johnston Regional Airport (JNX) represents an extremely effective capital development model that we can all get behind and support. I hope this is the first announcement of many more to come,” said Phil Lanier, airport director of the Johnston Regional Airport.
“JNX is an asset for people and companies across Johnston County and the Research Triangle,” says Chris Johnson, director of Johnston County Economic Development. The airport’s location off US Highway 70 west of Smithfield makes it a convenient base of operations for regional airport tenants such as Sparkchasers Aircraft Services and Duke Life Flight. “The Johnston Regional Airport is within easy reach of top employers like OPW, Grifols, Novo Nordisk, Caterpillar – all of which are growing global businesses, making JNX a key piece of economic development infrastructure for our county.” In addition to its direct job-creation impact, the Blue
Line Aviation Complex enhances the airport’s value as a transportation asset, according to Johnson.
“The Johnston County Regional Airport is a vital part of economic development in Johnston County,” said Ted Godwin, chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. “We are proud to strongly support Blue Line Aviation and will continue to encourage the growth and success of this important partnership as we work hard with the Johnston County Airport Authority to create the very best General Aviation airport in the Triangle region.”
The Blue Line Aviation Complex will be unlike anything the Johnston County or the Triangle Region currently has when it comes to aviation training. The complex will include more than 50 jobs added during the first year; 22,000 square feet of training, office and restaurant space; 20,000 square feet of hangar space; observation area; playground, roof-top restaurant; and a full motion flight simulator.
