The City of Oklahoma City is seeking to provide $2 million in economic incentives to finalize a deal with SkyWest Airlines which would result in a large new maintenance facility at Will Rogers World Airport and the creation of 375 new jobs over the next five years. The Oklahoma City Economic Development trust will decide in its meeting next week whether to allocate the incentives from funds earmarked for job creation and raised through the issuance of a general obligation bond. Similar funds are included in the up-coming election to decision on a new G.O. bond.

SkyWest is based in St. George, Utah and flies in a partnership with Alaska Airlines, as United Express on behalf of United Airlines, as American Eagle on behalf of American Airlines, and as Delta Connection on behalf of Delta Airlines. All four airlines are served by Will Rogers.

The airline employs more than 12,000 people in North America and carried over 30 million passengers in 2016 on a fleet of over 400 aircraft.

Under the terms of the agreement, SkyWest would build at 135,000 square foot maintenance facility at Will Rogers at 6325 S. Portland Avenue, which would be directly south of Field Aviation.

It is anticipated that the 367 new jobs would average $56,740 in annual salary.

SkyWest currently operates maintenance bases in Boise, Chicago O’Hare, Colorado Springs, Detroit, Fort Wayne, Fresno, Milwaukee, Nashville, Palm Springs, Salt Lake City, South Bend and Tucson.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and economic development officials from Oklahoma City have worked with the company since 2016.

Estimates from the Economic Development Trust show the total financial impact to be more than $327 million over the first three years of operation. Estimated local sales and property taxes is $1.5 million for the first three years than $318,000 annually thereafter.

– OKCTALK