National Air Cargo accepts US$1 million incentive, leaves NY for Orlando

NATIONAL Air Cargo (NAC), formerly a military-cargo airline based in upstate New York, has chosen Orlando as its new headquarters and offering more than 100 high-wage jobs, state and local officials said.

The airline said it was lured to city partly because of economic incentives potentially worth more than US$1 million, adding that the year-long nationwide search for a new home involved several rival cities. The average annual salary will top $61,000, according to Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development arm, reported the Orlando Sentinel.

The airline, which provides freight transport for military and industrial customers, was formerly based in Orchard Park, NY, and Ypsilanti, Michigan. It will spend about $875,000 renovating its new headquarters space in an office complex near Orlando International Airport.

"In addition to our employees working in Orlando and calling Florida home, we will have many more employees coming to the state on a regular basis as part of their jobs," said NAC vice president Jeff Miller.

State and local officials offered incentives for National Air Cargo, including a $200,000 state grant and a Qualified Targeted Industry tax-rebate package potentially worth $620,000; a $126,000 cash grant from the city of Orlando; in-kind employee-screening services worth $52,000 from Workforce Central Florida; and undisclosed employee-training funds from Workforce Florida.

The new headquarters will take up 25,000 square feet - the entire fifth floor - in the Citadel II office complex and the company is already using temporary space in the building until the fifth-floor renovation is complete.