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Hernando Today

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 19, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - County Airport Director Don Silvernell gets up around 4 a.m. most weekdays to prepare for the 60-minute trek from his Palm Harbor home to his office.

His "office," it turns out, is in a nondescript little building located on the Spring Hill Drive side of the sprawling Airport Industrial Park.

Once inside, a visitor's eyes will easily stray to a large painting on one of the walls - a picture of a young Silvernell next to (what else?) airplanes.

"My wife painted that," Silvernell beams.

Doubtless, that picture will be taken with him when he and his staff shortly move to a new office even closer to the "action."

In fact, the runway will be so close that prospective company presidents will be able to fly their planes right up to a taxiway ramp and enter into the new office, says Deputy Airport Director Rob Mills.

That suits Silvernell fine. He jokes that, as airport director, he has to be so far from the center of action.

And it's clear from talking with Silvernell that airplanes and the whole atmosphere of the wide open spaces is in his blood.

On one particularly sunny, cloud-free morning, Silvernell took a Hernando Today reporter and photographer on a personal tour of his domain - pointing out some of the 119 tenants who conduct business there.

He drives by the Corporate AirPark on the west side of the sprawling property and stresses there is another phase in the works.

He points out the new Kohl's Department Store, which sits on airport property. The airport gets $90,000 rent on just that store alone.

Located on 2,400 sprawling acres, the airport has become the economic engine for Hernando County. It includes not only the airport, but the RailPark, Corporate Airpark, AirPark Northeast and the Industrial Park proper.

Since being hired as director in 2003, the Hernando County Airport has grown considerably and contributed to the economic development of the area.

The Suncoast Parkway is largely responsible because it provided a much-needed link to Hernando County and Tampa Bay.

"The parkway is what really opened us up to the industrial and commercial development," Silvernell said.

Many of the airport tenants formerly had their companies located in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties but moved here because they found it less expensive to operate, he said.

And the tenants feed off the synergy of others in the park, he said.

For example, if a particular manufacturer needs the services of a machine shop, there is one on-site, Silvernell says.

That interconnectedness is vital to a company's bottom line because it cuts down on travel expenses.

Silvernell doesn't envision the airport taking on passenger flights. "We're just not big enough yet," he says. And, because of the proximity of Tampa International Airport, there are no regional carriers interested in operating here.

Like other businesses, the downturn in the economy has affected the airport and its tenants.

"We're not seeing the growth that we did," Silvernell said.

Two building supply companies were forced to close recently because of the depressed construction industry.

Others are struggling but hanging on until things improve, he said.

But there have also been success stories.

Accuform Signs Inc. expanded its manufacturing operation by leasing a 10,000-square-foot building at the industrial park for its existing screen printing and processing operation. Accuform currently employs 245 full-time office and production personnel.

'A Gold Mine'

County Commissioner David Russell said the county envisioned the master plan for the airport in the 1990s. It was always intended to be an industrial base.

"The industrial park has expanded beyond anyone's wildest dreams and continues to expand," Russell said. "It's a gold mine for business opportunities."

The airport is self-sufficient and no money is taken from the general fund to support it. The money that comes from airport revenue - land leases, fuel taxes and other charges - stays there and helps pay for maintenance and upkeep.

In 2005, the Airport Industrial Park paid out $478,760 in taxes. Taxes paid in 2006 and 2007 were $537,538 and $612,765 respectively.

Russell said the surprising thing is the speed at which the expansion has taken place.

County commissioners on Tuesday will discuss amending its economic development incentives ordinance, which could make it even more attractive for companies to relocate to the park, Russell said.

Also to be discussed are inducements to land leases at the airport for qualified aviation-related businesses.

"I believe (the airport) is a centerpiece of our economic development," Russell said.

A plan that worked

The Hernando County Airport and industrial park's reputation for attracting and retaining tenants has reached beyond the county line.

"It's an economic hotbed for the region as well," says Chris Steinocher, chief operating officer and senior vice president of marketing and business development for the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Companies today have a mentality of having it all - they don't have the patience of waiting for the roads, sewer and other infrastructure to go in, he said

That the airport has "development-ready" sites is a proven marketing tool the Partnership uses to keep companies interested in staying in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, Steinocher says.

And the added convenience of being next to an airport and a rail line adds to the allure.

The amazing part, he says, is that all this growth has happened in so short a time. And it's still happening. He credits that not only to Silvernell but to the marketing skills of Mike McHugh, the county's director of office and business development.

McHugh: Take A Look

McHugh said his office aggressively markets the airport and its parks via the Internet, real estate data bases, trade magazines and other sources.

Many people, he said, don't recognize the magnitude of the airport industrial complex and what's out there.

The parks are home to a diverse number of tenants, including those that make or distribute pharmaceuticals, plastics, medical products and sophisticated electronic equipment.

There's even a beverage dispensing company.

He encourages people to drive in and do some exploring.

A good way to start would be to take Aerial Way, which runs by Kohl's, and continue on through the Corporate AirPark, he said. "It's a business park, and I would encourage people to drive through," McHugh said.

Airport facts

Brooksville Army Airfield opens in 1942

Renamed Brooksville Airport in 1961

Property deeded from Brooksville to Hernando County in 1961

Renamed Hernando County Airport in 1968

Industrial Park begins development in early 1980s

Corporate Airpark: 12 businesses; 379 employees

RailPark: 6 businesses; 72 employees
AirPark Northeast: 4 businesses; 37 employees

Airport Industrial Park: 97 businesses; 1,284 employees

183-based aircraft that provide 82,000 operations annually (takeoffs and landings)

137 single-engine planes

14 twin-engine piston aircraft

8 twin-engine turbines

8 jets

14 helicopters

2 ultra-light aircraft

Taxes generated in 2007 from Airport Industrial Park: $612,765

Gallons of aviation fuel sold a year: 430,000

1.5 million square feet of industrial buildings

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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