from the runway

  • RELEASE - Workforce Collaborative Receives Mid-America Award

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Clinton County Workforce Collaborative (Collaborative) was recognized by the Mid-America Economic Development Council at the 2023 Mid-America Competitiveness Conference, held November 29-December 1, in Indianapolis.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Vector Electromagnetics New to Wilmington Air Park

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Clinton County Port Authority continues to diversify the mix of businesses located at the Wilmington Air Park. Most recently, this involves the lease of both office space and research, development, and test space to Vector ElectroMagnetics, LLC.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Board Holds Annual Meeting

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Clinton County Port Authority held its October meeting recently and elected officers for the 2023-2024 Boad Year.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Recognized as 2023 Best Workplace in Ohio

    (Wilmington, Ohio) For the fourth year in a row, the Clinton County Port Authority has been selected by Ohio Business Magazine as a “Best Workplace in Ohio.”

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Roth Joins Clinton County Port Authority

    Wilmington, Ohio – Josh Roth will join the Clinton County Port Authority staff this week as the Economic Development Director. He brings over 10 years of economic development experience from a variety of work experiences.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Brindle Awarded Bob Ady Scholarship

    (Wilmington, OH) Clinton County Port Authority Workforce and Data Specialist Ruth Brindle was recently recognized by the Mid-America Economic Development Council as a 2023 recipient of the annual Bob Ady Scholarship. The program encourages participation at the Mid-America annual conferences and provides each recipient with mentor support throughout the year, allowing for the most impact of the experiences.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Clinton County Port Authority 2023 SBDC Day Ambassador

    (Wilmington, OH) The Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA) is proud to be one of 50 Ambassadors for the 2023 SBDC Day on March 15, 2023. The day is a national, collective proclamation of the impact America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) have on the success of our nation’s dreamers, innovators, and doers – America’s small businesses.

    (Read more)

  • NEW FISCAL MANAGER POSITION

    The Clinton County Port Authority is seeking a Fiscal Manager to provide a broad range of fiscal and budgetary support to the Port Authority. This person will be responsible for day-to-day financial operations as well as long-term financial planning and should be well versed in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Announces T. Alex Beres as New Executive Director

    Wilmington, Ohio – The Board of Directors of the Clinton County Port Authority announced today that T. Alex Beres has been selected to be the new Executive Director. A seasoned public official with significant economic development background, Beres brings a wealth of management experience to the Port Authority to continue its work in Clinton County.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Prepares for 2023

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Clinton County Port Authority Board of Directors held its final regularly scheduled meeting of 2022 recently.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Workforce Collaborative Presents at National Conference

    (Wilmington, Ohio) Members of the Clinton County Workforce Collaborative recently presented at “Dream Forward: Imagine the Future of Education,” the 2022 national conference of the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) in Atlanta, Georgia.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Wilmington Air Park Named Best Airport in Ohio 2022

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Wilmington Air Park has been recognized as the Best Airport in Ohio for the third year in a row by Ohio Business Magazine in its “Best in Ohio Business” Awards.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Recognized as 2022 Best Workplace in Ohio

    (Wilmington, Ohio) For the third year in a row, the Clinton County Port Authority has been selected by Ohio Business Magazine as a “Best Workplace in Ohio.”

    (Read more)

  • Release – WILMINGTON DRIVE PROGRAM LAUNCHES Collaborative Effort Initiated to Facilitate Downtown Development

    (Wilmington, Ohio) A new economic development initiative – the Wilmington DRIVE (Downtown Revitalization Investment Vibrancy Effort) is being put in place to advance downtown Wilmington redevelopment opportunities.

    (Read more)

  • LGSTX Services Named Airport Business of the Year

    WILMINGTON, Ohio – August 26, 2021 – LGSTX Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG), was named 2021 Airport Business of the Year yesterday at the Ohio Aviation Association (OAA) Annual Conference. The award recognizes a business with a mission, services, and goals that result in a positive impact on a community, workforce, and local airport.

    (Read more)

  • RELEASE - Port Authority Celebrates Award-Winning SBDC Member

    (Wilmington, Ohio) The Clinton County Port Authority is pleased to congratulate David Riggs, Director of the SBDC at Miami Regionals, for being named Ohio’s SBDC State Star in 2021.

    (Read more)

Over 80 years of History at Wilmington Air Park- Air Cargo & UAV Testing
 
The Wilmington Air Park is rich in history. In 1929, a group of local aeroplane enthusiasts initiated flying activities on a field in Clinton County, Ohio. A year later the first hangar was built. Throughout the 30’s and 40’s the airport would take on many roles. American Airlines used the airport for flights to Columbus and Cincinnati. Throughout World War II, The Army Air Corps would take control of the field, naming it Clinton County Air Field, and conduct research, training and development.  During the Korean War the base was used as an Air Reserve Center. 
 
In 1960 the base was transferred to the Strategic Air Command which was responsible for maintaining a peacetime force strong enough to discourage enemy aggression.  In 1972, the base was decommissioned by the Air Force and the Wilmington economic development community established the Community Improvement Corporation which took over the base, renaming it the Wilmington Industrial Air Park.
 
The Park took off in the 70’s with new tenants moving into the Wilmington Industrial Air Park. Early tenants included National Airways, Kurz-Kasch and Midwest Air Charter. The establishment of educational organizations, including Southern State College and the Laurel Oaks branch of the Great Oaks Vocational School, provided a trained workforce for employers.
 
In 1980, Airborne Freight Corporation acquired Midwest Air Charter and established Airborne Express.  Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Airborne Express would become a dominate player in the air cargo market. The airport would become the only privately owned and operated airport with a CAT II Landing System. Packing and sorting facilities, aircraft maintenance hangars, fire stations, fuel facilities as well as expanded runways and roads would be added to the Air Park to accommodate growth. With various purchases of land from both governmental and private entities the park would increase in size to 2,000 acres.
 
In 2003, German cargo giant DHL purchased the sales and ground network of Airborne Express.  As a result, the aircraft portion of Airborne Express would become ABX Air and enter into contracts with DHL to continue providing air services. 
 
In May 2008, DHL announced that to stem significant losses in the US Market, it would initiate a new business strategy.  Throughout the next year, DHL exited the domestic package delivery market in the US and moved its international business to the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.  Over 8.000 local jobs were lost as a result of DHL's decision to exit the express package delivery business in the US. 
 
In 2010, DHL donated the Air Park to the Clinton County Port Authority for economic redevelopment in the region.  The donation represents one of the largest public donations of private land in the State of Ohio’s history. At that time it was home to four businesses and nearly 750 employees.
 
Today, the Wilmington Air Park has nearly all leasable space occupied, has 15 companies operating at the airport and is home to approximatly 3,500 employees. The diversified tenant base includes airlines, manufacturing, logistics, cargo operations high-tech/emerging processes and entry level opportunities. A 250-acre development site is available ajacent to the airport. 
 
Long an economic development driver for the region, the Wilmington Air Park continues to attract the attention of businesses and job seekers, alike.