Aerospace company wins $210K in subsidies

FORT MYERS — Lee County and state officials will provide $210,000 in tax subsidies to an aerospace firm that plans to expand here.

Advanced Components International, a subsidiary of a Belgian aerospace company, plans to expand into a facility in the Gateway area of Fort Myers from its current location near Southwest Florida International Airport. The company plans to spend $11.6 million to retrofit the Gateway facility and add 42 jobs to its current workforce of 36 people in Lee County.

“As ACI acquired more engine orders, we realized that we would quickly outgrow our current facility,” says Brad Cline, general manager of ACI, in a statement. “We evaluated several potential locations throughout Florida and even out of state, but ultimately chose to stay in Lee County in order to retain our current talent and skilled workforce, utilizing local resources to bring in new employees as well.”

Lee County commissioners in May approved a tax subsidy of $42,000 for the expansion project. The funds are a 20% match of a total tax subsidy of $210,000, with the state contributing the balance.

“The manufacturing sector is thriving in Lee County,” says Glen Salyer, acting director of Lee County's economic development office, in a statement. “When one of our manufacturers decides to expand as ACI is doing, it highlights a little known industry in Southwest Florida and signals to other companies that Lee County is a place where they can be successful.”