Jacksonville seeks to cement aviation future with ‘Project Bluebird’ incentive package

Jacksonville seeks to cement aviation future with ‘Project Bluebird’ incentive package (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Jacksonville is courting a major aerospace manufacturer with a $35 million incentive package that could reshape the future of Cecil Airport and potentially bring 1,200 high-paying jobs to the city’s Westside.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority board is set to vote May 19 on the proposed agreement, which would support “Project Bluebird,” a $400 million expansion effort by an unnamed company described as moving on an “aggressive timeline.”

If approved, the two-phase deal would see the company establish operations in a vacant hangar before developing up to 100 acres of airport property into a national aircraft production hub. The project would represent one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in Jacksonville in recent memory and a cornerstone in the city’s push to expand its aviation and defense sectors.

The first phase involves the manufacturer renovating and occupying the “recently vacated Hanger 825” with an immediate lease, per a summary of the plans. The hanger spans approximately 116,500 square feet, plus another 80,000 square feet of ramp and vehicle parking. This would serve as an interim space for Bluebird to set up operations in advance of new facilities coming online.

Bluebird aims to select a development site for those facilities by this summer, per the summary, and set a targeted opening date for the initial facility by the first quarter of 2027.

The codenamed company is described in JAA documents as moving on an “aggressive timeline.”

The second phase of the proposed agreement outlines a future ground lease for the so-called “Greenfield Development Site” — approximately 80 to 100 acres of undeveloped land on airport property.

The initial term would be 35 years, with three consecutive five-year options to extend, but not exceed 50 years, per the summary.

JAA would also provide a right of first refusal on additional land, up to approximately 175 acres for potential future development by Bluebird, according to documents.

In totality, as explained by prepared documents, the aviation authority’s investment and incentives would include:

• $22.5 million invested by JAA for site improvements and work to extend Taxiway E-1.
• $3,730,965 of rent abatements and common area maintenance fees on Hanger 825.
• $1.5 million-worth of rent credits on Hanger 825.

Six years of abated rent and common area maintenance fees on the greenfield development site, worth $7,180,353.

Under the proposed agreement, which the JAA board will vote on May 19, the manufacturer would be required to:

• Invest a minimum of $5 million in Hanger 825.
• Start the development’s phase one construction by June 1, 2027.
• Start the development’s phase two construction by June 1, 2029.
• Complete a minimum 600,000 square feet total by January 2032.

This proposal headed before the JAA board is the third incentive package considered for Project Bluebird.

One is expected to come from the state of Florida and another proposal potentially going before the Jacksonville City Council.

The deal would represent one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in Jacksonville in recent memory and a key milestone in the city’s broader effort to grow its aviation, defense and manufacturing sectors.

Project Bluebird anticipates creating 1,200 new jobs in Jacksonville as part of the expansion. These positions are projected to pay an average wage of $90,000, significantly higher than the city’s average annual salary.

Bluebird’s total investment in the facility is expected to exceed $400 million, all of which would remain “within the fence” of the airport, meaning it would be located on secure property controlled by the JAA.