Aura Aero Deal Tops List of Region’s Economic Successes

A 500,000-square foot facility creating more than a thousand jobs with an investment of more than $172 million topped the list of economic development projects to land in the region in 2024, but it has plenty of company.

 While Volusia County success in bringing French aerospace firm Aura Aero to the area, Flagler and St. Johns counties also saw success over the past 12 months in attracting new business development. And those successes were fueled by hard work, teamwork and a vision for the future.

For Keith Norden, president and CEO at Team Volusia EDC, the deal to bring the French aerospace firm’s U.S. facility to Volusia County was a highlight of the year.

“Team Volusia is proud to have played a key role in one of the largest business recruitment wins for Volusia County,” he said. “The projected impact of this new 500,000-square foot facility provides 1,030 jobs with an average wage of $73,695 and a capital investment of over $172 million.”

Norden described Aura Aero as “a groundbreaking international company with an innovative product” and said it will benefit future economic development efforts.

“An exciting win like this further elevates Volusia County as an excellent place to locate your business, especially within the aviation and manufacturing industries, which are strong sectors for continued growth in our business community,” he said.

Norden said the effort to bring the company to the area involved a who’s who of local organizations and governments.

“A vital component of Team Volusia EDC’s successful business recruitment process is to bring together key stakeholders across our community, across both the public and private sectors,” he said. “In locating Aura Aero to Volusia County, we were proud to work with several of our valued partners, including the CEO Business Alliance, Volusia County, City of Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia, the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, Daytona State College, and SelectFlorida/FloridaCommerce. And Volusia County’s commitment to the site readiness of the location at the Daytona Beach International Airport was a notable factor in this project win.”

The collaborative effort was also hailed by Lou Paris, Volusia County director of economic development.

“Successfully recruiting a large project like Aura Aero is a collaborative effort that requires the involvement of multiple partners,” he said. “No single entity can manage such a complex undertaking alone. The county played a key role in bringing Aura Aero to Volusia County by working closely with Team Volusia and the CEO Business Alliance from the very beginning. During the initial conversations with Aura Aero, the County provided critical support by listening closely to the company’s needs and identifying ways to strengthen the recruitment efforts of our partners.”

Paris said bringing a company like Aura Aero to the area is already having a ripple effect in attracting other high-tech firms.

“Beyond creating a significant number of high-paying jobs, bringing Aura Aero to our region is positioning us as a hub for aerospace and electric-powered transportation,” he said. “Since their decision was announced, we have engaged in conversations with several other businesses in these industries. They want to establish themselves here because they see this as the center of innovation and the future of these fields. It’s similar to how technology companies are drawn to Silicon Valley – it’s where they believe the most exciting developments are happening.”

While St. Johns County did not put in a bid proposal for the Aura Aero project, Economic Development Department Project Manager Sam Camp said it is the kind of company the county is looking to bring to the area.

“Aerospace and advanced manufacturing are among the county’s target industries for economic growth and prosperity,” he said. “The St. Johns County workforce and local training programs are well-equipped to support jobs associated with a facility like Aura Aero.”

Camp said even though Aura Aero selected Volusia County for the project, St. Johns County’s economic development efforts can still benefit from the decision.

“Second- and third-tier suppliers usually locate/relocate in proximity to their main client for supply chain effectiveness,” he said. Additionally, competitors or similar industry partners begin to view the region as a more viable option for expansion or relocation. It is difficult to judge the impact that may occur in St. Johns County, as the distance from the southernmost edge of St. Johns County to Daytona Beach is approximately 45 minutes (St. Augustine is a little over an hour without traffic), but all new development has a positive impact on the Florida ‘brand.’”

Camp said 2024 was a good year for St. Johns County’s economic growth, with the appointment of Sara Maxfield as director of economic development, the approval by the St. Johns County Commission of several incentive packages for a variety of projects including Acadia Healthcare’s plans to build a 144-bed hospital in the county and Tyme Institute’s project to open a cancer research facility.

In addition, the county received $9.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the construction of a new First Coast Technical College facility in Hastings.

While Palm Coast was not involved in efforts to lure Aura Aero to the city, Economic Development Director Craig McKinney said Volusia’s success is the region’s gain.

“The company’s decision to invest in Volusia County highlights the strength and competitiveness of the region as a hub for innovation and manufacturing, and we look forward to the positive ripple effects it will bring to businesses and residents of the region,” he said.

Flagler County officials said even though the project went to Volusia County, the experience will help shape future efforts to attract new business development.

“Although we did not achieve the outcome we hoped for, I am proud of the competitive opportunity our team presented,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito.. “Out of the 35-plus locations under consideration, our community was one of the top two contenders vying for the top spot.”

Petito said the capital investment available to Aura Aero from Volusia County and the county’s relationship with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University were factors in the ultimate decision.

“Understanding a company’s decision drivers, gives us the opportunity to adjust the county’s priorities in developing our economic development goals and objectives moving forward”, she said.

Petito said even with the county’s location between St. Johns and Volusia counties, iut can compete for economic development projects.

“Many of our strengths are because we are located between two larger counties to the north and south,” she said. “Flagler County can draw upon the skill sets of a widen workforce that encompasses St. Johns and Volusia counties.  We also pull on the expertise from JaxUSA Partnership, Northeast Regional Council, CareerSouce Brevard Flagler Volusia and CareerSource Northeast Florida to assist with data and research to make competitive Response for Proposals.  As other counties become land-locked, expanding and relocating companies will look for other options including Flagler County.”

Petito said Flagler County’s available land that can be made site-ready for prospective developers is also an advantage.

“This was one of the reasons that Flagler Executive Airport made it into the final selection process for Aura Aero – the site was site ready for development,” she said, adding that working with other local governments is also a plus.

“The city of Palm Coast is always a valued strategic partner in county economic development projects,” she said.  “It is our philosophy that when one partner succeeds, we all succeed.”