More than $35 million in both public and private money has been invested in Yuma International Airport over the past few years.
The airport’s construction activity and its contributions to the community’s economic development efforts will be the subject of the Know Yuma: Inside and Out forum from 7 to 8 a.m. Thursday at Yuma City Hall. It is free, and a continental breakfast will be served.
Some of that $35 million has funded improvements to runways and parking aprons, the terminal and other infrastructure to benefit the flying public.
But much of the focus has been on developing the west side of the airport into the Defense Contractor Complex to provide facilities for both short- and long-term leasing by defense contractors working to support the missions of Yuma’s two military installations: Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
Those dollars have fueled badly needed construction jobs, created hundreds of permanent jobs, provided new tax revenue sources and represent an investment in the future of the community that promises to deliver economic development and job creation well in to the future.
The airport also is an active participant in efforts to market and promote the Yuma area.
Gen Grosse, corporate account manager for the airport, will be the guest speaker Thursday. In her position, she markets the Defense Contractor Complex to potential aviation-related contractors and works with community organizations to promote the Yuma region’s capabilities and business friendliness.
The Know Yuma series provides business people with information on a variety of topics about the Yuma area. The monthly meetings are hosted by the Yuma Sun in partnership with Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp., Yuma Visitors Bureau, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and city of Yuma.
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