Aviation business, Angelina College partnership included in LEDC’s airport hangar plans

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – Lufkin City Council approved new developments for the Lufkin Economic Development Corporation’s airport hangar on Tuesday.

Plans now include a lease agreement with HCH aviation in Nacogdoches.

“I just think it’s really neat to realize the benefit of something that we voted on and we had no idea what it was going to lead to, we were just happy to put a big sign on it and let companies that were coming to Lufkin to park their planes in the hangar, and it’s turned into this,” Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks said.

HCH Aviation, a professional flight school, will bring its manufacturing and service operations to Angelina County. The expansion of the company will also bring 25 to 30 jobs. The company is expected to move in within a year.

“There’s a void in the aircraft mechanic need in the state of Texas and we’re going to be swift to move on that,” Bob Samford, LEDC’s director said.

The aviation company will also partner with Angelina College, and create a new aviation repair curriculum for students.

“Young people can come in and get their school hours at Angelina College and go out there and intern. So, it’s really exciting,” Samford said.

Construction for the hangar was approved earlier this year with a $750,000 budget. The project is a partnership between the City of Lufkin and Angelina County. The original plan was to build a hangar that would allow company CEOs to park their planes while in town visiting.

Lufkin City Council also approved the following:

A $25,000 land deposit from Clean Development Partners, LLC for an area within the City of Lufkin Business Park. The company has entered into an Economic Development Agreement with Lufkin’s Economic Development Corporation, and the land will be used for the company’s operations.

The appointment of Bruce Green as the city’s new Municipal Court Judge. Green is replacing Judge Chad Vier who plans to leave the position on September 3.

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