JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday said securing Boeing鈥檚 commitment for an expansion in 最新杏吧原创 County would be a 鈥渂ig deal鈥 for the state and hinted at possible state support for the plan.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been in contact with Boeing, and you know, we鈥檙e going to see where that all ends up,鈥 Parson told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty early.鈥
Said Parson, 鈥淚 know there鈥檚 conversations with that, and we kind of understand what Boeing鈥檚 wanting to do.鈥
The aerospace giant is considering a nearly $2 billion investment in 最新杏吧原创 County that could bring in 500 jobs as the company looks to build the next generation of U.S. fighter jets.
The project is also expected to support the company鈥檚 roughly 16,000 current employees in the 最新杏吧原创 region, the company has said, according to 最新杏吧原创 County Executive Sam Page.
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The expansion envisions 1 million square feet of space next to 最新杏吧原创 Lambert International Airport, but officials have been vague on details, saying the project involved advanced manufacturing production facilities for 鈥渇uture franchise programs.鈥
Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge said Lambert has been working with Boeing on a lease of airport-owned land for the project and expects to submit it to the city Airport Commission for approval next week. She declined to discuss any details.
The 最新杏吧原创 County Council has already considered offering incentives for the project: half off the company鈥檚 real and personal property taxes on the project 鈥 or about $10.8 million annually for 10 years 鈥 in exchange for the new jobs and investment.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked with Boeing ever since this administration鈥檚 been there for all their projects,鈥 Parson said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 a major project.
鈥淚f you can land that project and get it here in Missouri ... if they get that it鈥檚 a big deal for our state,鈥 the Republican governor said.
The Department of Economic Development handles business matters. The agency doesn鈥檛 typically comment on ongoing negotiations.
Boeing is no stranger to seeking local and state incentives in exchange for investments.
It was in line for $229 million in the coming years from Missouri for increasing its workforce to 16,500 in the 最新杏吧原创 region, the Post-Dispatch reported in 2019.
Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report
