When the state of Louisiana was trying to lure Hawker Beechcraft Corp. away from its Wichita headquarters, the state made five different offers based on how much of the company would relocate to the Bayou State, the Wichita Business Journal reports. According to newly released documents, had Hawker relocated all of its operations to Louisiana, it would have received more than $500 million in incentives. Other incentive package options included $75 million to build a new facility, $1.1 million for infrastructure expenditures, $16.8 million for research and development, and an exemption from property taxes. Hawker would have had to meet certain job-creation goals and other criteria to retain the funds. Had Hawker moved its entire operations to Louisiana, it would have created an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 jobs, according to Louisiana Economic Development. Hawker remained in Wichita after the state of Kansas, city of Wichita and Sedgwick County presented the company with a combined $45 million in incentives.
Editor’s note: This story has been changed since its original publication.
