Mayor encouraged by $11M airport boost
By KATE DUBINSKI, LONDON FREE PRESS

London is on its way to becoming the province’s transportation hub after an $8-million cash infusion from Ottawa for a cargo terminal at the city’s airport, announced by federal officials this morning.

The money will be matched by $2.5 million from the City of London and $500,000 from the airport itself.

The total will be used to build a new cargo terminal that will generate about 150 jobs and a much-needed boost to the region’s economy.

“This is an exciting and historic day. It’s been a tough year in London,” said Steve Baker, president of the London International Airport.

“That hardship has caused us to plan our own economic future and to develop economic development strategies.”

The project, part of a bigger vision for London to become a transportation hub for Ontario and an air-freight centre for flying cargo between Canada and Europe, involves building a warehouse at the airport that will receive air freight from businesses. The goods will then be shipped from London to the United states and other cities in Canada.

After Board of Control approves the project, the federal money will start to flow, hopefully before the end of 2009, said London West MP Ed Holder.

This morning Gary Goodyear, the minister of state for the federal economic development agency for Southern Ontario, made the announcement at the airport.

London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best was also there.

“This is very encouraging news for all Londoners and will create new jobs and industries to stimulate our economy,” she said.

“This is a recognition by the federal government that there is an economic reality we are dealing with but that there is also no way we are going to give up hope. We will continue to create jobs in this city.”

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Kate Dubinski is a Free Press reporter.