Jun. 28—MAXTON — The Southeast Regional Airport is one step closer to accomplishing its plan of becoming a Foreign Trade Zone after months of preparations and research.
"During our last meeting we updated the board on where we were with this journey," said Assistant Director Seth Hatchell. "We have also met with the Zone 93 Board and after explaining our initiatives, telling them about the airport and talking with them about Scotland County, they unanimously voted to allow us to join them."
According to Hatchell, the next step was to meet with the Triangle J Council of Government, which is over the Zone 93 Foreign Trade Zone.
"So a week later we met with the Triangle J Council and, once again, gave our speech on the airport as well as what Scotland County had to offer," said Hatchell. "This board also voted unanimously to accept us."
Hatchell said now there is only one more hurdle to cross and there are no foreseen issues to stop them from moving forward. The applications has been fiorward to Wsshington, D.C.
"We have already sent in our part of the proposal to the U.S. Trade Zone Committee," said Hatchell. " Once Zone 93 has submitted its part, we are looking at no longer than six months before we have our answer. Everything has gone seamlessly over the past few months as we worked towards our goal and we do not see any major problems arising to halt the process."
Letters of support from Scotland County, State Sen. Tom McInnis, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and the Lumber River Council have also already been submitted, according to Hatchell.
"Once this is complete it will help us hopefully bring in more manufacturing jobs and bring in more industry and lower import taxes," said Hatchell. "We are also hoping some of this will include golf-related manufacturing."
Other news
The Gryphon Group recently purchased a 70-acre piece of property which is located on Airport Road near Airbase Road.
"The property is the old Unicore site," said Hatchell. "The Airport Authority will be providing water to the location as well as handling the wastewater treatment for them."
Hatchell also said he is not sure what the Gryphon Group plans to do with the property but it is a possibility that offices will be set up and there will possibly be more training operations which will take place there.
More information on this will be provided when it becomes available.
JJ Melton can be reached at [email protected]
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