KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The City of Kissimmee celebrated the ribbon cutting of Aviator Holdings of Kissimmee Inc. (Aviator College), this afternoon. Aviator College is headquartered in Stuart, Florida and expanded with a new campus at Kissimmee Gateway Airport (606 Dyer Boulevard). Over the next 3 years, the company will create over 60 jobs and will have a company average wage of $40,000 (which is 115% above the Osceola County average wage).
The company has spent over $300,000 in renovations to the existing Dyer Boulevard facility and anticipates constructing more facility space within the next 3 years that will cost an estimated $4 million. Existing and new facility equipment totals are estimated to run approximately $3 million.
As an eligible Qualified Targeted Industry (QTI), Aviator College was eligible for economic development incentives. The total package of incentives available to this company is provided by various resources and is approximately $400,000. (Note - Although incentives are available, the company may not have needed them. Additionally, incentives are performance based and are not issued until the company meets their investment and employment obligations. The actual incentive calculations will occur in April 2018, when the company provides certified human resource payroll documentation to the City of Kissimmee’s Economic Development Office.)
Although the company is providing 60 local high value and high wage jobs, it will also serve as a resource for the upcoming aviation workforce crisis. Over the next 20 years the aviation industry will need 1 million more employees just to keep up with travel demands. This figure does not include the personnel needed to replace the ongoing attrition and retirements of aviation employees. The employee shortfall will significantly be felt in Central Florida tourism market due to the fact millions of our visitors arrive by plane.
“Planes require repairs and maintenance to be provided by certified A&P mechanics. These mechanics make great money and can learn the trade conveniently and affordably here in Kissimmee,” said Michael Cohen, owner of Aviator College.
Other aviation academic tracks are available at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, like avionics and flight training. Another aviation education QTI company will be announced by the City of Kissimmee in May/June 2017 that will further compliment this comprehensive educational assembly.
Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez stated, “In the coming months, Kissimmee Gateway Airport will work to brand itself as the destination for those interested in entering the aviation field. We hope to become the premier workforce pipeline for that industry.”
More information on Kissimmee Gateway Airport and the City’s economic development program can be found at www.kissimmee.org.
