Funding landed for airport park

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Mayor Ashton Hayward announced today that the city of Pensacola has been successful in securing $1 million in state funding for the Pensacola International Airport Commerce Park. The mayor said the acquisition of airport property is crucial to the airport's growth. "The acquisition of airport property is crucial to the airport's ongoing growth and focus on economic development. I would like to thank Gov. (Rick) Scott for his continued support of Pensacola, economic development and job growth,"Hayward said in a press release. (Source: City of Pensacola, 03/15/16) The park has more than 350 acres available for development. VT MAE, which has an 1,300-employee MRO operation in Mobile, Ala., plans to open a satellite operation at the park that will employ about 300 workers. It is being put on land that was already owned by the airport and not part of this purchase.