Although the company has never actually said its planning to move, the talk around Vero Beach, Fla., seems to accept it as inevitable that the areas largest employer, Piper Aircraft, is heading for greener (as in more tax-friendly) pastures for its PiperJet manufacturing facility. According to TCPalm, local economic development officials confirmed this week that they are actively trying to dissuade Piper from heading to communities like Tallahassee, Fla., Albuquerque, N.M., Columbia, S.C. and Oklahoma City, all of which are reportedly trying to lure the firm and its future very light jet factory. “The team has been meeting for several months to create an incentive package to keep Indian River County’s largest employer at their current location as well as to locate their new jet facility here,” local chamber of commerce president Penny Chandler said in a news release. “The company is evaluating locations for its headquarters and aviation manufacturing facility.” A Piper spokesman did not reply to AVwebs request for comment. Piper employs more than 1,000 people in Vero Beach and its economic impact is estimated at $518 million a year. There are indications that other communities bidding for Piper are willing to offer substantial incentives, something that worries the companys existing employees. Theyre afraid those incentives will require Piper to hire locally rather than allow current employees to move with the company. A meeting of local officials is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss Vero Beachs incentive package.
Vero Beach Officials Battle Piper Move
Key Takeaways:
- Piper Aircraft, the largest employer in Vero Beach, Florida, is considering relocating its PiperJet manufacturing facility and potentially its headquarters to more tax-friendly locations.
- Several cities, including Tallahassee, Albuquerque, and Oklahoma City, are actively bidding to attract Piper with substantial incentive packages.
- Vero Beach officials are preparing an incentive package to retain Piper, which employs over 1,000 people and has a significant economic impact on the region.
- Current Piper employees are concerned that incentives from other communities might require local hiring, potentially preventing them from moving with the company.
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