The final beam was signed by those gathered before being placed on the 40,000-square-foot structure.
The final beam was put in place Friday on the second building for the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park in Egg Harbor Township.
But the day marked much more than the topping off of the 40,000-square-foot facility, said officials who gathered to mark the occasion.
"This is a future that we're putting together," Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson told those gathered near the construction site.
He sparked the move years ago with an idea that asked other leaders to trust him.
PROVIDED/Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson signs the beam."We have an under-utilized airport and the premier testing center in the world, why not capitalize on it?" he said.
“This moment represents more than steel and structure – it represents progress, partnership and the vision of creating a world class ecosystem for aerospace innovation right here in South Jersey,” said park President and CEO Howard Kyle. “Building #2 will provide critical space for startups, research institutions, and global leaders in aerospace to collaborate, innovate and grow.”
The 40,000-square-foot facility was made possible by an $8.6 million investment through the state Economic Development Authority’s Strategic Innovation Center Program.
PROVIDED/NARTP President/CEO Howard Kyle.Beyond a grant, it is equity, pointed out Kathleen Coviello, the NJEDA's chief economic transformation officer.
"We want this to be successful, and having us as an equity partner keeps us in conversations with our other partners, keeps our eye on the ball, keeps us thinking about returns," she said. "We're looking at financial returns as well as economic development returns."
NARTP is located on a 58-acre parcel adjoining the FAA Technical Center.
"What a great opportunity to further expand the influence this region has on the United States aviation industry and to diversity our regional economy," said Eric Neiderman, director of the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace.
He noted that the work for plans to modernize the national aerospace system will be done at the tech center and the research park.
“We're on a mission to diversify our economy beyond gaming and tourism,” State Sen. Vince Polistina said. “Education is the key. We are developing a pipeline for students to be educated here, trained here, and have great opportunities here at the park and the FAA for long term high paying jobs."
Each speaker went back to the idea that it was a group effort.
PROVIDED/Sen. Vince Polistina"The way we diversify the economy and the way we improve opportunities for people here is by doing things together," Polistina said.
Those gathered will also have a permanent spot in the building. Each signed the beam before it was placed.
PROVIDED/From left, Lauren Moore, President of ACEA; Assemblyman Don Guardian; Assemblywoman Claire Swift; Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County Executive; State Senator Vince Polistina; Kathleen Coviello, Chief Economic Transformation Officer, NJEDA; Eric Neiderman, Director of William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace; Tim Edmunds, Executive Director of ACIA; Howard Kyle, President/CEO of NARTP.
