Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 3

16 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 aviation businesses to the airport and to the city. He was also instrumental in bringing the HIF Global eFuels facility to Matagorda County and has hopes of bringing in six more industries.” Bay City Regional Airport has seen a lot of corporate travel in recent times – Mason recalls that each time a large building project is undertaken in the area, the airport finds engineers, owners, and even workers flying in from outside firms to complete the projects. That has been a big part of the growth of the airport. This growth will, of course, lead to new opportunities, and to capitalize on that Bay City Regional would like to explore the possibility of partnering with Wharton Junior College and the local high schools within the next three years to start an aviation program. This will be looking at every aspect of aviation and offer students the chance to see that they can be a pilot, an aircraft mechanic, and everything in between when working in the industry. Where students previously had to go to the larger cities for that type of educational opportunity, it could now be offered in Bay City. “When you look at economic impact, we completed all the work to assess that,” explains Mason, “and it asks some tough questions looking at three-year average on capital improvements, tenants, budgets, and then it works out the economic impact. For our 2022 fiscal year, we are looking at the airport and its tenants directly impacting and creating 116 jobs for the city and the county. That labor income, as financial economic impact came out to be $9,887,000. Our total output economic impact was over $28,700,000.” Summing it up, Mason shares, “Airports are essential. They are essential to small towns, small counties, and especially to those that are growing. A lot is going on in Bay City and we are at the heart of it. In fact, Governor Abbott was just down here to announce Matagorda County was selected for the location of the first industrial-scale HIF Global eFuel facility in America. Once operational it will offer an alternative fuel source for gasoline powered vehicles. (https://www.prnewswire.com/news- releases/hif-global-selects-matagorda-county- texas-for-efuels-facility-301535725.html) . Cities and counties need airports, airports need cities and counties. It is a symbiotic relationship.” PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation www.mcedc.net The MCEDC is focused on growing Matagorda County through the recruitment of new industries, commercial businesses, tourism infrastructure, and the expansion of existing businesses. It seeks to expand our agriculture and aquaculture sectors through new crops, value-added opportunities, and recruiting local supplier and processing businesses. When considering Matagorda County to grow and expand your business, don’t hesitate to give us a call. n City of Bay City www.cityofbaycity.org n Bay City Chamber of Commerce www.baycitychamber.org