Commissioners to consider grant to benefit American Airlines
Associated Press
TULSA, Okla. - Tulsa County commissioners will consider Monday whether to apply for a $1 million grant that will benefit American Airlines, one of the county's largest employers.
County Commissioner Bob Dick asked the Indian Nations Council of Governments to prepare an application to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for economic development financing through its Community Development Block Grant program.
The federal funds would assist the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline with infrastructure costs in expanding its maintenance and engineering center near the Tulsa International Airport.
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, has maintenance bases in Tulsa, Kansas City, Mo., and Fort Worth and is considering closing one of them.
"We believe it is worth us making every attempt possible to keep a half-billion (dollar) payroll in Tulsa," said Dick, who added that the county's efforts would complement city efforts to keep the facility open.
The Tulsa center employs 8,300 employees. Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune has said the center contributes another 14,579 jobs to the area.
CDBG funding, issued and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, must benefit at least 51 percent low- and moderate-income residents.
Dick said that requirement could be met with the number of spinoff jobs that exist because of American's Tulsa operations.
Tulsa County voters will be asked to support American Airlines in the Vision 2025 proposal, which offers $22.3 million in incentives.