Josh Bergeron SALISBURY POST
Aircraft Charter Company Plans Move to Rowan County Airport
April 23, 2015
  • Share
  • An international company is planning a move to Rowan County’s Airport after commissioners on Monday approved an agreement to build an office next to the airport’s largest hangar and provide other monetary assistance.

    For months, the board of commissioners discussed the matter in closed session, but formally announced on Monday that Strategic Moves Aircraft Management would move its headquarters to the airport.

    Strategic Moves describes itself as a private on-demand charter company. It has locations in both Carolinas; Virginia; Colorado; British Columbia, Canada; and Finland. Currently based in Statesville, the company would lease a hangar — just completed last year — and 4,200 square feet of office building from county government at a price of about $7,000 per month. Strategic Moves owns about a dozen small aircraft and would locate five of its planes at the Rowan County Airport.

    Strategic Moves President Steve Setzer wasn’t available for an interview, but said in a new release that it was immediately apparent Rowan County was the right location for his company headquarters after discussions started about the move.

    “They understood that growth is the key to prosperity for everyone,” Setzer said. “Their commitment to growth and to the county is what sold us on moving. The commissioners and I believe that the ability for businesses to be able to fly in and out of the Rowan County airport will attract other companies and more business to the county.”

    Rowan County government committed $50,000 in “up-fit assistance” to help with the transition. County Manager Aaron Church said the money would include fixtures, such as a hazmat shower, inside of the hangar. Church said the county has also committed to paying the entirety of the cost for the 4,200 square foot office building, which Church said could cost $600,000 to $750,000.

    As a part of the agreement approved Monday, Strategic Moves will be charged a lower markup on gasoline after meeting certain, pre-determined amounts.
    Strategic Moves describes itself as a private on-demand charter company. It has locations in both Carolinas; Virginia; Colorado; British Columbia, Canada; and Finland. Currently based in Statesville, the company would lease a hangar — just completed last year — and 4,200 square feet of office building from county government at a price of about $7,000 per month. Strategic Moves owns about a dozen small aircraft and would locate five of its planes at the Rowan County Airport.

    Strategic Moves President Steve Setzer wasn’t available for an interview, but said in a new release that it was immediately apparent Rowan County was the right location for his company headquarters after discussions started about the move.

    “They understood that growth is the key to prosperity for everyone,” Setzer said. “Their commitment to growth and to the county is what sold us on moving. The commissioners and I believe that the ability for businesses to be able to fly in and out of the Rowan County airport will attract other companies and more business to the county.”

    Rowan County government committed $50,000 in “up-fit assistance” to help with the transition. County Manager Aaron Church said the money would include fixtures, such as a hazmat shower, inside of the hangar. Church said the county has also committed to paying the entirety of the cost for the 4,200 square foot office building, which Church said could cost $600,000 to $750,000.

    As a part of the agreement approved Monday, Strategic Moves will be charged a lower markup on gasoline after meeting certain, pre-determined amounts.

    http://www.salisburypost.com/2015/04/23/aircraft-charter-company-plans-move-to-rowan-county-airport/