Politics & Government

CAA Approves Regulations for Creating Development Zones Around State's GA Airports

The zones include tax incentives to help spur economic development around the airports.

 

The Connecticut Airport Authority on Thursday approved procedures for the creation of development zones around the five general aviation airports it oversees.

In addition to , the authority oversees the operation of the state’s five general aviation airports, Danielson, Groton/New London, Hartford Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham airports.

“We’re really excited,” Karen Jarmoc, who who chairs the CAA board of directors’ outreach committee, said. “This is part of our purview, to stimulate economic development around the airports. Clearly there is an interest within the business community.”

The Bradley Airport Development Zone offers tax incentives to manufacturers and other specified businesses which develop or acquire property in the zone and create jobs. A business qualifies for tax incentives associated with the program if it acquires an idle facility or constructs, substantially renovates, or expands one and uses the facility for specified uses, officials said.

Eligible uses include manufacturing, research and development related to manufacturing and work to significantly service, overhaul or rebuild machinery and equipment for industrial uses.

The other airports could have similar zones except the state Department of Economic and Community Development will have to approach the authority about creating a development zones,  Jarmoc, said.

DECD will have to make a proposal to CAA detailing why a zone should be created. Brad Monschein, an attorney with Pullman & Comley, said state statutes are specific about the agencies’ roles.

Jarmoc said the Waterbury-Oxford Airport administration has expressed interest in creating such a zone.

 The authority in June approved an East Granby business,, as the first to take advantage of the Bradley Development Zone. The board also approved the preliminary application of a Suffield business, Metal Finish & Supply Company.

Jarmoc said a Windsor Locks freight and transportation company, has expressed an interest in being included in the development zone. The agency is on track to approve a business every other month, she added.

“Which is impressive,” Jarmoc said. “It demonstrates that there’s interest in the development zone.”


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