Area to find out about project
Officials will find out today whether a site at Midland International Airport is among the finalists for a project that could employ 500 people, Arleene Loyd told Thursday’s meeting of the Odessa Development Corp.
Loyd, the Odessa Chamber of Commerce’s director of business retention and expansion, said an aircraft manufacturing company — which she said had confidentiality clauses that forbid its name from being released — was considering the Permian Basin as one of six possible sites. The list is expected to be trimmed to two today.
The company, nicknamed "Project Coyote," is seeking a site to manufacture, fabricate and assemble aircraft, Loyd said. Aircraft would also be sold at the 30-acre site, and customers could learn to fly there.
"It’s in Midland, but it’s a big, big project," she said.
While it would benefit Odessa, Loyd said it could also mean ODC would have to chip in with incentives.
"The competition with other sites is tremendous," she said.
The Midland site is the only one being considered in Texas, Loyd said.
Those gathered also got the first look at a long-awaited segment on "Inside Business," a five-minute program that airs on national cable networks.
The feature, which has been discussed since July 2009, is expected to debut in June, said Christi Callicoate, who handles the ODC account for CVA Advertising. The project is costing ODC $19,000.
The segment shows testimonials from business people who have received incentives from ODC, including Nick Fowler, owner of REXtac LLC, and Ed Rose, president of Falcon International.
The feature highlights the city’s 800 acres of industrial park land and shows area attractions like the Ector Theatre and the Ellen Noël Art Museum.
"I’m just glad we didn’t mention the Presidential Museum," ODC board president Rick Carlton said.
It also mentioned transportation advantages of the area, including Interstate 20, the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the "Midland-Odessa" International Airport.
"That’s gonna make ’em mad," board member Tom McMinn said.
Board member Austin Keith didn’t attend the meeting.
