LAKELAND, Fla. — A new multi-million dollar maintenance facility is coming to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, and with it — hundreds of jobs.
Next month, the Lakeland airport will begin construction on a 42-acre maintenance and air cargo building.
It will be used for repairs and overhauls on large jets. It will also be open to other businesses interested.
The director of the airport, Gene Conrad tells ABC Action News the airport will hire about 400 new people, a majority of them will be aircraft technicians.
“We actually have a pipeline we are creating here at the airport,” Conrad said.
Just down the road, Traviss Technical College is gearing up their students to get ready to work close to home. Many could and, likely will, land jobs at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport once they obtain their technical degrees.
“Average median income of an aircraft technician mechanic is $61,000,” David Wiggs with Traviss, said.
According to Wiggs the industry demand is so high that many of the students get jobs before they even graduate. With a new demand locally, this is a greater incentive for students to get their technical degree in Lakeland.
“To be able to have those jobs locally, and students get trained here, and have jobs here, and have jobs locally that just helps the businesses around here grow,” Wiggs said.
More than half of the positions filled will be making a median income compared to other Polk County jobs.
The project itself is estimated to be about $32 million and will be complete by this time next year.
