Facing the Challenge and Beating the Odds
The Team
Kevin Carver – Executive Director, Clinton County Port
Authority
Carolyn Chisano – President, Chisano Marketing Group
David Lotterer – Vice President, Supply Chain &
Logistics Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
Setting the Stage
1929
1940
1942
1972
Airport opened, small hangar built
Civil Aeronautics Authority took control of Wilmington
Airport for use as an emergency landing field
The Army Air Corps took over the airport, renaming it Clinton County
Army Air Field. With the establishment of an independent U.S. Air
Force in 1972, the installation was renamed Clinton County AFB and
primarily supported Air Force Reserve flight operations and training.
The Base decommissioned as an Air Force
installation and the Community
Improvement Corporation (CIC) began
developing it as the Wilmington
Industrial Air Park.
Setting the Stage
1980
2003
2009
2010
Midwest Air Charter was
1962
acquired by Airborne Freight
Corporation creating Airborne
Express. The airfield was
renamed Airborne Air Park.
DHL’s purchase of Airborne
Freight Corporation resulted
in the ownership transferring
to DHL.
DHL announced its departure from domestic package delivery and
moved operations to CVG.
The Wilmington Air Park was donated to Clinton County Port
Authority in June. The Air Park never went dark.
Setting the Stage
2008-2010
8,000 employees lose their jobs; cascade effect
as other businesses are forced to close or lay
employees off
National news stories picturing Wilmington as
the poster city for failed economy and
businesses
Volunteer Board takes on management and
running of a 1,900-acre airport
How do you take a multi county asset and job
generator and redevelop it to be better,
stronger, more diversified.
Everyone had ideas – some the same things,
some wildly outside the box
Luckily in the time when the Air Park was winding down as a home
to DHL, groups were working in the background to begin its
redevelopment. One of the plans already in play was to look at air
park with new eyes.
Redevelopment Plan
The primary goal of the redevelopment study was to identify
potential economic development opportunities for Wilmington
Air Park.
Conducted by authorities in their fields, the study took nine
months and gathered input from Community and Business
stakeholders locally and regionally.
They study was funded by the U.S. EDA and the State of Ohio.
Redevelopment Plan Process
Visioning
Analysis
Synthesis
Community Outreach
Physical Site
Financial Strategy
Historical Data
Market Analysis
Governance Strategy
Goal Setting
Regulatory Analysis
Regulatory Strategy
Evaluation Criteria
S.W.O.T.
Land Use Strategy
Stakeholder Committee
Tools
Data Driven Process
Stakeholder
Meetings
CAD
Drawing
review
Reverse
Location
Selection
Location
Quotient
Statistical
Analysis
Community
Meetings
Site
Analysis
Employment
Data
Reverse Location Selection
Recommendations
• Financial Stabilization
• Leverage proximity to WPAFB
• Explore domestic commercial aviation uses
• Investigate and pursue international air cargo
• Expand MRO operations
• Consider non-aviation uses
• Configure / modify sort buildings
• Utilize incentives to fund future investment in facilities and infrastructure
Land Use Plan
• Considers current
and targeted
future uses
• Flexible and
dynamic as the Air
Park grows
Target Industries
“Aviation Business Park”
• International Air Cargo
• Aerospace/Military Manufacturing
• Research Development & Testing
• Maintenance Repair and Overhaul
Non-Aviation Uses
• Office
• Manufacturing
• Ground Logistics
Next Steps
Take the results of the Redevelopment Study
and translate them into a work plan
Bring JLL on board for representation
Bring Chisano Marketing Group
on board
Marketing Plan
Redevelopment Study
Collaborate with JLL
Short and Long Term Objectives
Target Audiences
Strategy
Tactics
Budget
Branding
Old Logo
New Logo
Apply the Brand – Signage
Web Site
Opt-in Database
SEO
Interactive Maps
Electronic Newsletter
Electronic Advertising
Print Advertising
Media Relations
Target Trade Publications
Aviation Week
Site Selection
Air Cargo
Logistics
Management
Aerospace
Manufacturing
Trade Shows
Support JLL Attendance at Shows
Ohio UAS Conference
Mini UAV Promotion
Partnerships
MANY MORE…Government, Businesses, Educational Institutions,
Community Members, Media
Sales Materials
Air Park Brochure
Building Brochures
Emails
Promotional Folder
Target Marketing
Broker Outreach
JLL
Academy
Events
Successful Public Projects
Inland Ports Conference
Proposals
Wilmington Air Park
Using the Redevelopment Plan as a guide
Increase MRO capabilities with new Hangar
State Supported
259 New Jobs when complete
Use of many local / regional contractors in
construction
Revolving Loan Fund
$1.3 Million available
Advisory Board in place
Draft RLF Plan and work with
US EDA for approval
RLF Coordinator
Current Activity
Tourism Activities
East Coast Timing Association (ECTA)
Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and
Miami Valley Sports Car Club (MVSCC)
Avengers Filming
2013 impact is over
$1.6 mm to local community
UAS Activity
UAS Activity
DDC/AFRL early contacts
AFRL COA activity
SCC COA activity
Participation in FAA SIR
response and plan
Ohio UAS Conference exhibitor
AUVSI participant with Ohio
Wilmington Air Park
Advantages
Great Land and Air Access
Skilled Workforce
Low Cost, Low Overhead
Significant Amount of Available Space
Modern Aviation Infrastructure
300+ acres Available for Development
Questions