QUILCENE – The Jefferson County Economic Development Council will seek aviation industries for the Jefferson County International Airport.
Port of Port Townsend commissioners voted on Wednesday to contract with the Jefferson County Economic Development Council to conduct a nationwide search.
The three commissioners hope to generate aviation-related industry at the airport.
The port would pay EDC $5,000 during the yearlong contract.
The EDC would create a database of light composite aircraft manufacturers and aircraft component manufacturers.
From the database, EDC would identify a list of companies to solicit via mail, e-mail and phone, with the intent of attracting them to the airport.
The action followed a pitch from EDC executive director Ian McFall.
“What we’re essentially trying to do is attract new industry to this area,” McFall told the three port commissioners during a work session in the Quilcene Harbor Yacht Club building at the port-owned Herb Beck Marina and Industrial Park.
Action was taken at a business meeting after the work session.
The port commissioners directed staff to set up the contract with EDC for final approval at a future meeting.
