Officials want Boeing plant

The local airport site meets many of the criteria the jet manufacturer is seeking.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
Local officials are going all out to land a plant for a new Boeing aircraft. The plant would employ up to 1,200.
A detailed application required by Boeing will be completed in a few days, said Reid Dulberger, executive vice president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
The organization, which handles economic development of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, has devoted a lot of staff time the past several weeks because of the size of the project, Dulberger said.
"It's worth an all-out effort," he said.
Consulting company
For site selection efforts, Boeing has hired a consulting company, which has contacted development departments in many states. Ohio officials passed along the required 27-page questionnaire to local agencies, including the chamber.
"The opportunity obviously is enticing, but on the other hand, it will be extremely competitive," Dulberger said.
He said Boeing's site requirements are so challenging that it will be hard for any community to meet all of them.
He didn't want to discuss the Mahoning Valley's shortcomings but said positives include the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and adjacent vacant land that would be suitable for a plant.
"They would need that runway. They would fly the completed planes out," he said.
Dulberger and Walter Good, manager of business attraction for the chamber, said the project is so large and the local site is so good that they are broadening support for the local effort.
They have backing from officials in Ashtabula and Columbiana counties and think they will have the support from communities outside the four eastern Ohio counties.
Deadline
Boeing said all proposals are due by June 20. It says it isn't commenting on the selection process but has decided to limit its consideration to sites in the United States.
Among its criteria are a suitable runway capable of all-day operations, roads capable of handling heavy traffic, proximity to railways and interstate highways, good flying weather and community and governmental support.
Boeing said it expects to select a site late this year or early next year. Plane assembly is to start in 2005 with the first flight in 2007. After needed certification, the plane would be added to Boeing's fleet in 2008.
Boeing is calling the proposed plane the 7E7, although it recently conducted a naming contest on the Internet. Results are to be announced later this month.
Boeing is emphasizing fuel efficiency with the new plane, which is expected to use 15 percent to 20 percent less fuel than other large planes.
It would carry between 200 and 350 passengers, depending on how many passenger classes are used.
shilling@vindy.com