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Garamendi Welcomes Aircraft Manufacturer and Hundreds of Jobs to Solano County

May 15, 2014

Click here to watch an ABC 7 News Report on the announcement.

VACAVILLE, CA – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) and local leaders welcomed ICON Aircraft, a consumer sport plane manufacturer, to its new global headquarters in Solano County. ICON Aircraft made this unprecedented announcement just yesterday and are planning to generate well over 400 new manufacturing and sales jobs in the region. An independent analysis estimates that the economic impact on the region will exceed $350 million. In 2013, Garamendi wrote a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in support of ICON’s proposed facility, which is now becoming a reality.

“These sharp-looking planes represent hundreds of middle-class jobs coming to Solano County. I am excited to welcome ICON Aircraft to our community and to have them join my Manufacturing Advisory Committee,” said Congressman Garamendi. “This new facility will help the region’s economy take off. ICON will create customers for other businesses through their supply chain, employee spending in the area, added tourism, and more. I was happy to add my voice to chorus of support from the Solano business community, local officials, and the Solano Community College. When we work together, we can ‘Make It In America’ and ‘Make It In California.’”

In their press release, ICON stated that they “chose the site in Vacaville because of the business-friendly local government, accessibility to a vibrant, talented labor pool, existing facilities adjacent to the airport, and outstanding weather and local conditions for year-round flight operations and training. The site also allows easy access to compelling recreation destinations, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Wine Country, and Sacramento for visiting customers as well as employees.”

The move will enable ICON to consolidate its manufacturing, sales, training, service, and corporate headquarters into a 140,000 square foot facility alongside the Nut Tree Airport, offering easy access to the area’s lakes and scenic terrain. The company will begin operating the Vacaville facility in the first quarter of 2015.

Background on Consumer Sport Planes

In 2004, the FAA created a new classification of easy-to-fly and affordable two-person airplanes called Light Sport Aircraft. These airplanes enable a new classification of Sport Pilots to fly in lower altitude, uncongested airspace, during the daytime, and in good weather.

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