Boeing announces plans across from Tinker AFB

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) _ State and local officials announced today they've reached an agreement with Boeing to lease airplane hangars that will be built at a new maintenance and technology center

Wednesday, January 11th 2006, 12:34 pm

By: News On 6

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) _ State and local officials announced today they've reached an agreement with Boeing to lease airplane hangars that will be built at a new maintenance and technology center across from Tinker Air Force Base.

Work at the center will include upgrades to the U-S Air Force's AWACS planes.

The venture is a joint effort between Trammell Crow Company and Battelle (buh-TELL') Memorial Institute and the Oklahoma Industries Authority and will cost about 35 (m) million dollars.

Officials say the first hangar is to be completed in November and Boeing is expected to transfer 50 employees. Another 275 to 325 jobs are expected by the end of August 2008.

A total of 17 hangars are eventually expected with up to one-thousand high-paying jobs at the center.

Governor Brad Henry says the project solidifies the future of Tinker and the aerospace industry in the state.

Part of the diversification of state economy to ease the loss of jobs from the pending shut down of the General Motors assembly plant in Oklahoma City.