WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today praised the transfer of the Wilmington Air Park to the Clinton County Port Authority. DHL announced plans to transfer its facility in January 2010.
"This is a critical step toward rebuilding the economy of Clinton County and Southwest Ohio," Brown said. "Until today, the Wilmington Airpark was the largest privately-owned airport in the country. Now that the county port authority has ownership of the facility, we will be able to market the Air Park and attract new businesses. It is critical that we put this regional asset to productive use and put Southwest Ohioans back to work."
Following DHL's decision to transfer authority of its air park to the Clinton County Port Authority, Brown wrote Assistant Secretary of Commerce John Fernandez urging the Agency to expedite consideration of two proposals submitted by Wilmington officials to the Economic Development Administration.
Since DHL announced plans to shutter all operations at its Wilmington hub in May 2008, Brown has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of the Wilmington community. Sen. Brown has been working closely with local and state officials on the issue of ownership of the air park. Brown led the Ohio Congressional delegation letter to the U.S. Department of Labor in support of Wilmington's 2008 application for National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds, which was accepted again this past year. In addition, Brown helped secure more than $50 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assist Wilmington and other areas across the country that are facing sudden and severe job loss and economic distress due to corporate restructurings.
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