Hook Field to lease space to background check firm

Feb. 17--MIDDLETOWN -- A Cincinnati-based background check company will bring three jobs to Hook Field, and provide an added benefit to the city's airport.

John Hart, part owner of Start Skydiving, is planning to lease 4,000 to 5,000 square feet of open space at Hook Field, 1707 Run Way, to expand his other business, Selection Management Systems, which runs background checks for businesses.

Part of that expansion will include bringing in a backup generator that will benefit the airport if a blackout happens. Hart said it will be strong enough to power two hangers. This will be at no cost to the city, he said.

"We should never be without power at the airport," Hart said.

The space the Selection Management Systems will lease will house its disaster recovery center -- which is its backup system in case fire or some other disaster hits its Cincinnati office. The center will employ three people.

Hook Field was chosen to locate the backup system over others in Blue Ash and West Chester Twp. because "it's convenient," Hart said.

"It just made sense for us to build out the space there," he said.

The lease will provide an additional $9,000 a year in revenue for the city, pending council's approval of the lease agreement. City Manager Judy Gilleland said city staff is reviewing the contracts and once the contracts are approved work will begin.

Airport Manager Rich Bevis said the airport business has been growing in recent years and is "really thrilled" about the expansion.

"The great thing is they're going to be renting space from us that's been running vacant," he said. "The more (business) we get to Middletown the better the town does."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or [email protected]. Follow at twitter.com/mdpitman.

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