The Council for Economic Outreach is pleased to announce that Eclipse Aviation has chosen Gainesville as the site for its first U.S. Factory Service Center outside of its Albuquerque, N.M., headquarters. Eclipse initially approached CEO in late August of this year making this project one of the fastest moving in recent memory. Gainesville was selected from several potential sites in the Southeast as the official announcement from the company was made at the National Business Aviation Association Convention on October 11 in Las Vegas, Nev. Eclipse was attracted to the Gainesville area because of its proximity to the Southeast customer base, the willingness of the local community to embrace the Eclipse idea of a value proposition as well as a large pool of skilled and technical graduates of the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. At the outset, Eclipse will bring 16 full-time jobs with an average wage expected to exceed $49,000. It plans to locate the new factory service center at Gainesville Regional Airport. “This is an outstanding opportunity to add high quality jobs to the East Gainesville area,” said CEO Chair Kathy Pierce (ECT Inc.). “From airport officials to the City of Gainesville Enterprise Florida, UF and Santa Fe Community College, this project’s success was the result of a team effort.” The aircraft produced by this company cost less than one quarter of today’s small jet aircraft. The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word “personal” into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. A network of seven U.S. Factory Service Centers will eventually be developed to support the maintenance of these new jets. The first two centers will open in 2006, and will be located at its headquarters in Albuquerque and here in Gainesville.