Marketing under way for aviation business park
An international marketing campaign is being launched with the intention of developing a world-class aviation commerce centre next to the Collingwood Regional Airport.
Project coordinator Paul Bonwick said they will be looking for industries specifically related to the aviation and aerospace sector, which typically offer high paying skilled jobs.
The total cost of the development is estimated at more than $300 million and is projected to create up to 1,700 direct and indirect jobs.
“The global trend is such that the aerospace and aviation sector is forecast to have double digit growth over the course of the next decade…” said Bonwick. “There is a myriad of different businesses that we will be marketing to but what we are looking for is people who are interested in either extending their market share within the North American market or securing market share within the North American market, to European and Asian aerospace and aviation companies.”
A strategic advisory board, made up of “industry leaders”, has been established to further the development of the Clearview Aviation Business Park.
The four-person advisory board, charged with providing input and experience in achieving the airpark’s long-term goals, will be chaired by Charlie Tatham, former chair of the Collingwood Regional Airport Services Board and founder and former president of C. C. Tatham and Associates Ltd. Consulting Engineers.
Other board members include Blake Wallace, who was the lead advisor in financing Pearson Airport’s Terminal 3 and Vista Air Cargo, Bogota Runway Project, Prague Airport Terminal, BudaPest Airport Terminal and Porter Airlines; Alexander Younger, founder and president of Design Lab Inc., a strategic marketing firm with an international client base and Tim Murphy, a senior partner in McMillan LLP law firm, which specializes in national and international project finance, infrastructure, energy, construction, and public policy. Murphy is also a former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Paul Martin and a former MPP.
One or two more additional board members will be appointed in the coming weeks.
In 2015, Clearview Township approved an Official Plan Amendment allowing plans for the development of the aviation commerce centre to proceed to the next step.
The amendment from agricultural to special policy employment area permits airport related uses such as flight schools, aeronautical dry light manufacturing, research establishments, offices and temporary residential accommodation.
“I am very pleased to see the calibre of individuals joining the Clearview Aviation Business Park Strategic Advisory Board,” said Clearview Township Mayor Chris Vanderkruys. “Our community is looking forward to the opportunities that the Clearview Aviation Business Park will bring to the region. Clearview council and staff will continue to work closely in a partnership with the Clearview Aviation Business Park development team in helping to realize Clearview’s longstanding vision of creating a world-class development.”
In November, Collingwood council, following an in-camera discussion, did not support a recommendation from the Collingwood Airport Services Board to provide a letter of intent to Clearview Aviation Commerce Centre to develop an access agreement to the airport.
