January 18, 2017
Next week, the city council will receive all information and prepare to vote on whether to initiate the process for a Federal Inspection Services (FIS) Facility at the Long Beach Airport (LGB). Taking place for a date certain of next Tuesday, January 24 due to in large part by Councilwoman Stacy Mungo's motion from a previous meeting in December, the public and the business community has one final opportunity to weigh in.
As a reminder, The Chamber has a long-standing history of supporting the airport. We also have a long-standing history of protecting the noise ordinance and ensuring that it remains intact. This issue has been addressed by the city council approved Jacobs Engineering feasibility study that has been released since October 2016 and by two letters received by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 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 Long Beach business community and region. There are also other factors the Chamber weighed when deciding to support such a facility which are outlined in the feasibility study and as presented by airport staff at a previous city council meeting in December. These include but are not limited to:
- Construction of the FIS facility would create approximately 250 jobs and generate a financial one-time regional output of $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 million of annual regional output
- International travelers spending estimated to create 179 jobs and $31 million in annual local output
- FIS facility can be used by all airline carriers and non-commercial operators only within the confines of the noise ordinance
- Creates multiple trade and tourism opportunities by bringing outside dollars into the local economy to grow both local businesses and jobs
- No City of Long Beach general fund dollars will be spent to construct or operate the FIS Facility
- No direct or discernible impact to local convention business in Long Beach due to nearby airports LAX and John Wayne with superior number of travel options
- FIS facility would not increase security risks to LGB and the Long Beach community
- LGB will NOT be 100% international airport
For information on the agenda item for Tuesday, January 24, please
click here
.
To contact your elected officials and let them know your position, please
click 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 January 24 at this very important city council meeting.
...and that's Strictly Business.
