COATC.com News from 2004
News from the Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center in 2004

December 27, 2004
Port, Chamber Partnership Continues
The Port Authority prepares for its role as the sponsor for the 49th Annual Groundhog Day Breakfast, the Newark & Licking County Chamber's largest annual membership event. The Port Authority, and its major tenants on the COATC Base Campus, are jointly sponsoring the event which attracts 750+ business people every year.

November 17, 2004
Ohio Senate Passes Port Linked Deposit Legislation
A legislative change sought by State Senator Jay Hottinger to give port authorities the ability to create linked deposit programs as a business incentive passed the Ohio Senate today. The bill is expected to go to the Ohio House for agreement before the end of the session on December 8.

November 14, 2004
Newspaper Editorial Supports Continued State Ownership of Panhandle
Newark-based newspaper, The Advocate, in a Sunday editorial encouraged the state to consider the economic impact of sale of the Panhandle line which provides competitive rail service for Licking County.

November 2, 2004
Groundbreaking Held For COATC South Campus Roadway
A November 2nd groundbreaking ceremony is a milestone in a project to improve and extend Kaiser Drive in Heath from St. Rt. 79 to a center point on the new COATC South Campus. The project brings the first major improvements to this piece of property in over 50 years. The project, funded in part by a state grant under the Third Frontier Program, is expected to completed by Summer 2005.

October 18, 2004
Port Authority Management Role Brings National Recognition
Saying, "HNLCPA is a government entity. . .[that] operates like a private company," national facilities magazine, TFM (Today's Facility Manager), featured the Port Authority in its October 2004 edition. The Tech to Watch column called our use of technology "impressive" and cost-effective.

October 18, 2004
Rail Service Matters to Site Selectors
One national site selection consultant, at the recent IEDC annual conference, said, "If you have rail, you have a scarce resource. If you have dual rail service sites, you have a crown jewel resource." The comment forestalls the importance of the state-owned rail line that services COATC and is usable by multiple rail operators.

October 11, 2004
Kaiser Drive Extension Moves Closer to Start
R.F. Scurlock Co. was the apparent low bidder for a project to improve and extend Kaiser Drive in Heath from St. Rt. 79 to a center point on the new COATC South Campus. The paving and storm water actions are the first major improvements to this property in over 50 years. The project, 75% funded by a state grant under the Third Frontier Program, is expected to begin this month with completion by Summer 2005.

September 8, 2004
Port Authority Unveils New Website, Logo
As part of a push to update the marketing materials and brand the Port Authority in its roles as a manager, developer, and economic development leader, a new logo and web site have been unveiled. The new website brings together all of the Port Authority roles under one umbrella and is a launching pad for everything the Port Authority does.

August 6, 2004
New Banners Give COATC Presence on St. Rt. 79
New banners are now up and visible at the St. Rt. 79 entrance to the COATC South Campus. The new banners serve as a starting signal to the variety of projects underway and upcoming on the new South Campus.

July 30, 2004
Op-Ed Column: Port Authority Means Management, Development, Leadership
There is no deep water port on the Licking River, yet Licking County is home to the fourth-largest port authority in Ohio.

July 27, 2004
Online Auction Capability Touted
The Port Authority's now one-year conversion to online sales of excess property has increased sales revenue by 340% while opening space for lease and reducing manpower. The Port Authority is property manager for the nearly one million square feet of office and manufacturing facility space.

July 14, 2004
Foreign Trade Zone Seminar A Success
The Port Authority joined forces with Southgate Corporation to provide a briefing for prospective businesses and local officials on the benefits of a foreign trade zone. Local manufacturers were joined by community leaders, consultants, developers, and state officials.

June 16, 2004
Foreign Trade Zone Seminar Set
The Port Authority has joined forces with Southgate Corporation to provide a briefing for prospective businesses and local officials on the benefits of a foreign trade zone. A seminar is set for July 14th at the Base. Registration can be made online.

June 10, 2004
Layman, Sheldon Elected Officers
The Port Authority Board, in its meeting Tuesday, reelected Steve Layman as Chairman and elected Ron Sheldon as Vice Chairman. In other business, the Board approved a total of $1.3 million in capital projects.

May 31, 2004
Economic Plan Unveiled
In an op-ed piece appearing in The Advocate, Licking County Commissioner Marcia Phelps discusses a new, unified approach to economic development for Licking County involving developers, the communities, and the Chamber.

May 17, 2004
State Grant Approved
Approval of a $500,000 state grant was received Monday, May 17 by the State Controlling Board. The grant calls for the extension of James Parkway to Kaiser Drive, considered Phase II of the planned road improvements on the South Campus of the COATC and is tied to a still-pending economic development project.

May 3, 2004
Kaiser Drive Extension Nears
Heath City Council unanimously approved an ordinance accepting the preliminary plat of the COATC South Campus. The approval paves the way for the start of the first major capital project on the new property--the extension of Kaiser Drive. Kaiser Drive will be extended to a length of 3,900 feet to a center point on the new COATC South Campus. A public bid is expected in coming weeks.

April 13, 2004
Capital Projects Advance
As the construction season begins, several high-profile capital projects are gaining momentum. Visible parts of the door replacement project are about to take shape, another Building 4 roof project is out to bids, and other projects are underway or near ready for construction.

April 6, 2004
Renaud Named Gov. Taft's Aerospace and Defense Advisor
Retired Air Force Col Joe Renaud, commander of the Newark AFB through base closure in 1996, has been named Aerospace and Defense Advisor for Ohio Governor Bob Taft. "Selfishly, this is good news for COATC, " said Port Authority Director Rick Platt. "Joe knows The Base, lives in Newark, and I'm sure will keep us high on his priority list." See a statement from the Port Authority.

March 31, 2004
OnTheBase.com Web Site Is Here
OnTheBase.com, an online resource for personnel and visitors to the Base campus of the COATC, is now active. The web site is part of the Port Authority's decision to formally adopt use of the long-used nickname The Base to refer to the COATC while it expands its boundaries.

March 26, 2004
OnTheBase.com Web Site Coming Soon
A new web site is coming to "The Base." OnTheBase.com, an online resource for personnel and visitors to the Base campus of the COATC, will be up and running soon. The web site is part of the Port Authority's decision to formally adopt use of the long-used nickname The Base to refer to the COATC while it expands its boundaries.

March 10, 2004
The Base Ad Unveiled
The Port Authority will be part of a publication highlighting life in Licking County. The 2004 progress edition of The Advocate, titled Living Here, will be published March 25 and March 28 in the newspaper and its sister publications in the region. The ad reveals the Port Authority's decision to formally adopt use of the long-used nickname The Base to refer to the COATC.

March 1, 2004
Ohio Captures Top Development Prize
For the fourth time in the last 11 years, Ohio has been ranked the top state for new and expanding facilities by Site Selection magazine. The distinction is given by the magazine editors for success in certain economic development criteria.

February 25, 2004
Licking County Feels The Impact [In PDF Format]
The latest numbers are in showing the economic impact of The Base on the local economy. The review shows that the Port Authority and its tenants are among the largest taxpayers in Licking County.

February 23, 2004
COATC, Again, Boasts Presence of Six of Top Twenty Defense Contractors
The 2003 list of top 100 Department of Defense contractors is now out and includes six tenants of the COATC. The rankings are based on dollar volume of prime contracts. The top three contractors all have a presence at COATC with fully six of the top 20 represented. The listing further solidifies COATC's status as one of Ohio's top five largest concentrations of the aerospace and defense industry. Also, see a COATC/DoD fact sheet. The rankings:

Lockheed Martin #1
The Boeing Company #2
Northrup Grumman #3
Raytheon #5
BAE SYSTEMS #13
Honeywell #18

February 18, 2004
Our New Nickname? The Base [In PDF Format]
The Port Authority, after spending years trying to get people to call it something else, is now embracing use of "The Base" as the local nickname for the Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center. Soon, signage and other communication will reflect the adoption of the name that was long-ago adopted for us.

February 16, 2004
$2 Million Bond Issue for Fairfield County Non-Profit [In PDF Format]
Once again, the Port Authority has put to use its bonding authority, this time expanding to outside of Licking County. Recently, the Board approved a $1.95 million bond issue for the Family YMCA of Lancaster. The bond uses the tax-exempt financing capability of the Port Authority to deliver lower-cost financing for projects with a public benefit. The Port Authority has completed over $18 million in bond issues in the last three years.

February 11, 2004
Heath Rec Center Renews Lease Through 2006
The Port Authority Board, at its February meeting, renewed a lease with the City of Heath which will retain the City's Community Recreation and Fitness Center on-Base through 2006. The incentive lease is designed to provide wellness and fitness facilities as an added amenity for on-site employees while also opening the doors to the public to take advantage of the facility.

Also see the details on the Rec Center's next Take Your Pulse Day set for February 20th.

February 4, 2004
Snow Report Card System Working
In Ohio and much of the northern U.S., snow removal is a big focus of any property management company's job. The Snow Removal Report Card system used by the Port Authority gives regular chances for our customers, our tenants, to grade the job our crews are doing. With grades of B+, A, A, and A- on the major snow events this year, the snow crews must be hitting their mark.

January 26, 2004
Foreign Trade Zone Expands to COATC
It's official. Rickenbacker Foreign-Trade Zone #138 has been approved for expansion to the COATC. The expansion gives COATC a niche few in the nation enjoy--open access rail service married with strong incentives for global trade. Timed with the announcement, the Port Authority increased its marketing efforts by offering a web-based summary of the benefits of FTZ status along with a downloadable calculator for determining the economic benefits, case-by-case, for companies using the FTZ.

January 13, 2004
Foreign Trade Zone Expansion to COATC Expected Soon
Formal announcement of the expansion of Rickenbacker Foreign-Trade Zone #138 to the COATC is expected any day now. The expansion gives COATC's 49 acres designated for FTZ status a niche few in the nation enjoy--open access rail service married with tremendous incentives for global trade. This web site includes a summary of the benefits of FTZ status along with a downloadable calculator for determining the economic benefits for companies using the FTZ.

January 13, 2004
NARFE Chapter Meets at COATC
The Licking County Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) held their first monthly meeting of 2004 at the COATC. The COATC camera picked up a view of the parking lot outside of the Conference Center showing good attendance.

January 9, 2004
Snow Report Card: COATC Clear vs. Elsewhere Snow-Covered
The overnight snowfall prompted the second of our new Snow Removal Report Cards to be published. The card shows that Port Authority contractor Village Landscaping had COATC facilities cleared before 5:30 a.m. while elsewhere around the area drivers encountered snow-covered paved areas. Today's card includes a summary of the snow event, a review of snow removal efforts, a comparison to nearby sites, and letter grades from COATC tenants.

January 5, 2004
Weather Cam Debuts
See the weather at COATC in a glance. A new "weather cam" is up and running. The camera enhances the popular COATC weather station web page.

See the 2003 News Archive.

See the 2002 News Archive.

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