A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Tuesday morning at Tallahassee International Airport to mark the start of construction on a new International Processing Facility.
“This is a $28 million investment that will be a major economic driver for the entire region,” said City of Tallahassee Director of Aviation David Pollard, “and allows Tallahassee to accommodate international flights with goods shipped to and received from worldwide destinations.”
Once completed, the airport can be designated a Foreign Trade Zone by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to the International Trade Administration, this designation will help facilitate and expedite international trade as well as create employment opportunities in Tallahassee.
“This development will permanently improve the economic competitiveness of our entire region,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey at the event. “Our prioritization of the airport is making it a significant economic driver in a way our community has never seen before.”
Dailey said the designation will create more than 1,600 jobs and initially bring a total economic impact of over $300 million. Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2024.
