Dan Evers Becomes Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority

The Clinton County Port Authority has appointed Dan Evers executive director, succeeding Kevin Carver who will retire from his post.

The authority is a special purpose government established to manage transportation infrastructure and promote economic development activities in Clinton County. Situated on 1,900 acres, Wilmington Air Park features 2.75 million square feet of industrial, office and hangar space.

In addition to owning and operating the air park, the port authority collaborates with regulatory agencies, development agencies and local communities in attracting new businesses and jobs to the region. They partner with organizations like Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio in order to bring investment and jobs into the region.

Amazon was among the companies that relocated to Wilmington in 2015 as it tested out running its own air freight service. Since then, Amazon has established three data centers and two distribution operations in central Ohio, employing thousands of workers.

It’s a major win for the port authority and surrounding cities such as Wilmington, Clinton County and beyond, who have seen an enormous growth in cargo volume since Amazon partnered with Air Transport Services Group to lease airpark space. According to DePaul University’s report, Wilmington’s cargo volume will grow more than 289% year-over-year (YOY) in 2020 – making it one of the fastest-growing cargo hubs nationwide.

Last year, Wilmington experienced another significant victory when global pharmaceutical company Alkermes revealed plans to expand in the air park and create 400 new jobs. They received a 1.3 percent Job Creation Tax Credit from the state, as well as local incentives from the city, port authority and JobsOhio.

The port authority has worked together with the company and its team to guarantee its success, including by bringing in consultants for site work. Furthermore, ODOT’s Office of Aviation and capital budget have provided crucial grant dollars that guarantee that the air park meets federal standards for FAA Category III instrument landing systems, according to Evers.

Wilmington’s air park has seen remarkable progress over the years, going from four tenants and 750 employees in 2010 to 13 tenants and 2,000 by 2018. Thanks to Port Authority efforts, hundreds of new jobs have been created as well as 700 existing ones – testament to its success!

In just a few years, Wilmington has seen significant transformation. Now, the Clinton County Board of Commissioners, Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation, Port Authority and local convention and visitors bureau have joined forces to launch an expansive county-wide economic development program.

The port authority has a longstanding tradition of creating jobs and economic development in Wilmington. They own and operate Wilmington Air Park, an esteemed air park location. At present, it’s Ohio’s highest volume freight airport, ranking 25th overall in U.S. statistics from BTS show it processed 346 million pounds of freight during the year ending July 2020 – placing it among the top 10 airports within the state.