Locals to spend US$3.5 million on MidAmerica for Boeing plant

TWENTY-FIVE miles east of St Louis on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, St Clair County voted US$3.5 million to pay for a warehouse at MidAmerica St Louis Airport to be transformed into a Boeing defence plant.

The county also has its hopes pinned on getting regular air cargo service from China to MidAmerica starting later this year, according to a press release issued by the airport, despite fierce competition from a rival airport across the river in St Louis, Missouri.

But Boeing has promised to pay back the county during its 10-year lease, reports the local Belleville, Illinois, News-Democrat. Formerly Seattle-based Boeing is now headquartered in Chicago and has received Illinois financial incentives to establish its defence plant at MidAmerica and also has existing facilities across the river in St Louis, Missouri.

County Board member Steve Reeb, like other Republican members, said the county had already spent millions of dollars in financial incentives for the five different airlines, which had disappeared from MidAmerica with nothing to show for it.

"We've been down this road before," Mr Reeb said." But the fact this is Boeing - there is the possibility for expansion."

County board chairman Mark Kern was confident. "We're comfortable that a company of the stature of Boeing has made a commitment to the area, and we look forward to working with them," Mr Kern said.
(Source:www.schednet.com)