December 12, 2016
Last week, the city council voted to have staff compile all relevant information with regards to a Federal Inspection Services (FIS) Facility at the Long Beach Airport (LGB) and set a date certain of January 24, 2017 for a final decision on next steps. As part of the continued community input process, the city council has also agendize a study session on the Jacobs Engineering feasibility study for a FIS at LGB on tomorrow's city council agenda. For information on this agenda item, which also includes background info on the process to date, you can click here.
We applaud the city council members that made this decision, especially Councilwoman Stacy Mungo, whose motion it was to ensure the public has ample time to provide even more input on this very important issue and to do so outside of the holiday season.
Thank you also to Councilwoman Suzie Price who seconded this motion.
As a reminder, The Chamber has a long standing history of supporting the airport and protecting the noise ordinance - an issue addressed by the feasibility study and by two letters received by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2015 and 2016 which affirms that an FIS will NOT negatively impact the noise ordinance. The Chamber further supports a FIS Facility at LGB due to the multiple economic benefits for the region which are outlined in the Jacobs Engineering feasibility study. For these reasons below including, but not limited to:
- Construction of the FIS facility would create 200-250 jobs and generate a financial one-time output of $31 - $38 million
- Sustained employment by LGB, air carriers, government, and businesses supporting the operation of international flights and the FIS facility would create approximately 350 jobs and $36.4 million of annual output
- The potential additional economic expenditures resulting from the international travelers spending estimated at $104 million
- Business and tourist travel impacts are estimated to result in an increase of approximately 1,400 jobs and a $185.6 million in annual output
We also value your input on this issue. As we have previously sent out, please take the time, if you haven't already, to take a very short survey by
clicking here
. We appreciate your contribution to this important effort, and should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. We hope to see you at tomorrow's study session and at the January 24, 2017 city council meeting.
...and that's Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
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