HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-301 Letter - ODOT Sky Research CITY OF
November 16, 2011 ASHLAND
Oregon Department of Transportation
Connect Oregon IV-Review Committee
555 13'h St., Suite 2
Salem, Oregon 97301-4178
Dear Connect Oregon IV Review Committee Members,
This letter is in support of the application by Sky Research, Inc. (SKY) for Connect Oregon 1V
funding to support the expansion and consolidation of business operations including Part 135 air
charter service at the corporate headquarters located at Ashland Municipal Airport. The
proposed funding will allow SKY to relocate the accounting, human resource, and business
development functions to Ashland from facilities currently located across the country and
worldwide. The expansion of the Ashland facility and the consolidation of staff will increase
efficiency by allowing engineers and scientists in dispersed locations to work together in
conjunction with flight operations, administration and marketing staff to help continue the
growth of this successful, high technology company.
Sky Research products and services are on the cutting edge of remote sensing and munitions
detection technologies. SKY operates air, ground and marine vehicles around the world,
locating, mapping and identifying unexploded ordnance, land mines and other munitions and
explosives of concern. . The corporate headquarters are located in Ashland; however, core
science, technology and process development currently take place in locations scattered across
the country and abroad.
Proposed facilities will be designed to house more than 100 staff that SKY expects to recruit or
relocate to Ashland within 4 years. Since 2001, SKY has grown from a start-up business to a
successful business with more than $25 million in annual revenue. Demand for Sky Research's
services and most recent innovations continues to put pressure on the firm for rapid expansion,
with an expected tripling of employment over the coming 6-8 years. Support from Connect
Oregon will help SKY stay close to its roots in Southern Oregon while managing rapid growth of
a global enterprise.
Sky Research is about technology; technology that must be deployed by highly trained and
immediate staff. A consolidated base of operations in Ashland will streamline the deployment of
staff by strengthening corporate functions for expanded light manufacturing and aircraft value
added processes while providing facilities at a critical airport location.
Sincerely,
.tc>t1 Strom/berg, Mayor J/
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Tet.541-488-6002
20 East Main Street Fax:541488-5311
Ashland,Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900 �r
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