Local officials in Greensboro are considering more than a million dollars in incentives for Honda Aircraft to build a service and support center. Honda's offer asks for about $775,000 from Guilford County and $520,000 more from the city of Greensboro. The company opened a headquarters building at Piedmont Triad International Airport four years ago. That facility has about 600 workers. Honda tells county commissioners the expansion would add more than 400 jobs over the next five years. Commissioner Kirk Perkins supports the incentives.
Kirk Perkins: "I think it's a bargain, actually, when you look at what their presence has already been in the Triad and what they can be in the future. I think it's one of these few-in-a-lifetime that would be that quality of company coming to the Triad, because they really could operate anywhere in the world and build these jets."
Two board members voted against advancing the proposal, including commissioner Billy Yow.
Billy Yow: "Honda's going to come whether they get an incentive or not because they're invested in Alamance County and Guilford significantly. And if you look at the state of the economy, I think it's a bit outlandish to be laying out money of this type to HondaJet on a speculated 400 jobs over the next five years."
County commissioners and the Greensboro City Council hold public meetings next month to hear what residents think.
