Volusia County Council Approves High-Tech Incentive

Volusia County officials are hitting the afterburners to boost the region’s high-tech footprint with a French twist.

The County Council earlier this month approved a measure to offer a $500,000 incentive to Aura Aero, an aerospace manufacturer based in Toulouse, France, to put its U.S. headquarters in Volusia County, along with a customer experience center and an aircraft manufacturing facility.

According to a county staff report, Aura Aero designs and builds eco-efficient, low-carbon emission aircraft. The U.S. project would create more than 1,000 new jobs with an estimated average wage of $72,000.

In August, the Daytona Beach City Commission voted to contribute 20% of the incentive, up to $100,000. County officials said the project is expected to have an annual payroll of more than $74 million, a one-time economic impact of more than $317 million for construction of the facilities. At full employment, Aura Aero is projected to generate more than $537million in total economic impact annually.

“This kind of high-tech headquarters and manufacturing facility is absolutely critical to the county’s targeted industry goals and overall economic growth,” said Volusia County Economic Development Director Lou Paris, in an interview with EVOLVE News. “Bringing Aura Aero to the area will bolster the region’s standing as a leading aerospace hub, attracting other key players in the industry. Additionally, their partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and other local providers around Daytona Beach International Airport creates synergies that make this move highly advantageous. It’s a win-win scenario for both the company and the county.”

Paris said the company is still weighing its options for a location.

“While Aura Aero hasn’t made a final decision on a specific property, they are particularly interested in one that provides direct runway access,” he said, adding a decision is expected by the end of the year “most likely in December.”

In addition to incentives from Volusia County and Daytona Beach, the state of Florida and Space Florida are also offering packages to the company.

Paris said the county is using the Grow Volusia program to fund the incentive.

“This is a performance-based workforce incentive where qualifying companies are rewarded for creating and retaining high-paying jobs in the community,” he said. “Under this program, Aura Aero is projected to receive $500,000 over 10 years for bringing approximately 1,000 high-paying jobs to the area.”