LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – The Lufkin City Council approved a new airport hangar development for the Lufkin Economic Development Corporation on Tuesday.
Current plans include a lease agreement with HCH Aviation of Nacogdoches.
“I’m really happy to see the benefits of what we voted for. We had no idea what it was going to lead to. We were just happy to put up a big sign and give businesses that come to Lufkin the ability to park their planes in the hangar, and this is what it has become,” Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks said.
HCH Aviation, a professional flight school, is relocating its manufacturing and service operations to Angelina County. The company’s expansion will also create 25 to 30 jobs. The company expects to relocate within the next year.
“There is a shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians in Texas and we are going to address that problem quickly,” LEDC Director Bob Samford said.
The airline will also partner with Angelina College to develop a new aircraft repair curriculum for students.
“Young people can come to Angelina College and get their class hours and do an internship there, which is very exciting,” Samford said.
Construction of the hangar was approved earlier this year at a budget of $750,000. The project is a joint venture between the city of Lufkin and Angelina County. The original plan was to build a hangar where company CEOs could park their planes while they were visiting town.
The Lufkin City Council also approved:
A $25,000 land deposit will be paid by Clean Development Partners, LLC for an area within the City of Lufkin Business Park. The company has an economic development agreement with the Economic Development Corporation of Lufkin and the land will be used for the company’s operations.
Bruce Green has been appointed as the city’s new Municipal Court Judge. Green will replace Judge Chad Via, who is scheduled to retire on September 3rd.
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