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DHL agrees to donate airport to county for redevelopment

Wilmington region has been hit hard by the loss of nearly 8,000 jobs after DHL closed operations.

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By Kim Margolis, Staff Writer Updated 6:38 PM Monday, January 18, 2010

WILMINGTON — DHL Express will donate its Wilmington Air Park to the Clinton County Port Authority in a move officials hope will lead to the revitalization of a community devastated by the loss of nearly 8,000 jobs after DHL closed its hub there.

The company will turn over control of the airport to the port authority in a ceremony at 10 a.m. today, Jan. 19, according to officials.

“The impact of this closing has had a regionwide impact so we want to make sure we can not only just create jobs here, but in the surrounding area,” Wilmington Mayor David Raizk said Monday.

DHL will donate the airport and about 1,500 acres. The property has a tax value of $62.2 million, according to Clinton County property records.

Raizk, who also is co-chairman of a redevelopment task force for the airport, said it would be “premature” to talk about potential tenants, but “there has been a lot of interest” in the air park.

Port authority and task force members also have been working on securing state and federal funds for the project, he said.

Raizk said he hoped former DHL employees would get future jobs at the air park. Wilmington was devastated by DHL’s actions, which created increasing unemployment numbers and a depressed housing market.

“Our best asset is we have an absolutely great work force that is highly skilled and motivated,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2216 or kmargolis@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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