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Aviations Exterior Louisiana

New Iberia/Acadiana Region

The Mission 

 Since 1990, Aviation Exteriors Louisiana has specialized in the servicing of commercial, corporate and military aircraft.

The Challenge

Following the 2022 acquisition of the company by Jerry Hernandez, the company, which had grown from commercial aircraft painting to include military and corporate jets, sought to expand its business model into maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

The Opportunity

Louisiana offered Aviation Exteriors a competitive incentives package that included:

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Recruitment and training support from Louisiana’s nationally recognized workforce development program, LED FastStart.

Performance-based grant of $2 million for upgrades to a 60-year-old aircraft maintenance hangar that the company planned to lease from the Iberia Parish Airport Authority.

Qualified 80-percent property tax abatement for up to 10 years through the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program, contingent on meeting job creation and payroll commitments.

Recruitment and training support from Louisiana’s nationally recognized workforce development program, LED FastStart.

Performance-based grant of $2 million for upgrades to a 60-year-old aircraft maintenance hangar that the company planned to lease from the Iberia Parish Airport Authority.

Qualified 80-percent property tax abatement for up to 10 years through the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program, contingent on meeting job creation and payroll commitments.

The Outcome

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2022

Aviation Exteriors Louisiana now functions as a full service airframe shop providing aircraft paint, aircraft maintenance and passenger to freighter conversion services at the company’s base of operations at Acadiana Regional Airport in New Iberia.

$2.5 Million

capital investment

100

direct new jobs

$56,687

average annual salary, plus benefits

83

retained existing jobs

2022

Aviation Exteriors Louisiana now functions as a full service airframe shop providing aircraft paint, aircraft maintenance and passenger to freighter conversion services at the company’s base of operations at Acadiana Regional Airport in New Iberia.

$2.5 Million

capital investment

100

direct new jobs

$56,687

average annual salary, plus benefits

83

retained existing jobs

“After a thorough search of the southeast U.S., I was impressed with both the local and state enthusiasm for our company’s mission. …  The local support and assistance of LED have played a tremendous role in our success, both with the resources they provide and economically by providing the incentive package that took the edge off my leasehold upgrade requirements to accommodate this new business.”

– CEO Jerry Hernandez

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