The City of Madras announced today that Butler Aircraft will hold a formal groundbreaking ceremony this Friday, August 22 at 6pm, at its new site near the Madras airport.
The groundbreaking begins right before the start of the Central Oregon Air Show, an annual event held in Madras.
Butler Aircraft, founded in Central Oregon in 1946, contracts with the Oregon Department of Forestry to conduct maintenance on aircraft used specifically for firefighting. The company currently operates out of a facility at Redmond Municipal Airport-Roberts Field and expects to grow with its expansion, brought about in part by a large ConnectOregon II grant as well as additional loan and grant funding, into a new 30,000 square foot hanger in Madras that is expected to open in late 2009, company officials say.
Butler Aircraft plans to create as many as 30 full-time, high-salaried positions, and Madras city officials have been publicly excited about the prospect. The city expects further economic growth at the airport’s industrial park following the company’s expansion.
