New WR-ALC software lab going up on site of iconic music label
A planned software laboratory for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex will make its home on historic musical ground in downtown Macon.
Brig. Gen. John C. Kubinec, WR-ALC commander, and several community partners cut the ribbon on the future software engineering facility at 520 Martin Luther King Blvd. in a ceremony on Monday, October 14.
The lab will be located adjacent to the former Capricorn Sound Studios, which many credits with being the birthplace of Southern Rock in the 1970s. Mercer University is restoring the studios and will re-open the facility in December as Mercer Music at Capricorn. The legendary Allman Brothers Band, members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recorded on the Capricorn label, as did popular artists such as the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Elvin Bishop and more.
The software lab venture is a collaborative effort by WR-ALC, Mercer University, the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, Macon-Bibb County consolidated government and NewTown Macon.
According to a project description from the complex, “WR-ALC aims to create a space for ingenuity by networking with community and educational leaders in Computer Science and Engineering. While continuously delivering war-winning software to our Airmen, this endeavor will allow for the furtherance of software agile development. Set in historic middle Georgia with ambitions to foster community involvement and grow revitalization efforts, WR-ALC will utilize the setting as a stage for recruitment of nationwide talents in the fields of extreme programming, lean production development, research and development.”
Click here to watch that ribbon-cutting event on the Macon-Bibb County Facebook page.
Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, Dean Baldwin Painting LP Announce Expansion plans in Macon Bibb County
Dean Baldwin Painting Limited Partnership together with the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority announce plans to build a new state of the art aircraft strip and paint facility at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon Bibb County, Ga.
The new facility will be approximately 127,000 square feet plus office, warehouse and aircraft ramp space. The additional new facility is the result of Dean Baldwin Paintings’ focus to better serve their customers and the industry by offering aircraft painting services in the Southeast.
The facility will be specially designed for aircraft painting services for military and commercial customers. In addition to the separate warehouse and administrative areas, the facility will have four full-service strip and paint bays. Three of the bays will accommodate narrow body aircraft such as the A321 and the C130 aircraft. A fourth bay will service the larger C17 and the B767 aircraft. “We are all very excited about this new location and the prospect of doing business in the aviation friendly State of Georgia with its famous Southern Hospitality; it’s a well-planned expansion for us,” says Dean Baldwin Painting CEO Barbara Baldwin-McNulty. “Not only does this new facility address our need for more capacity, it also places us closer to new and current customers in the Southeast.”
Dean Baldwin Painting has a robust training program tailored to training unskilled workers who transition from other occupations. The training program has had proven success through the years having repeatedly taken qualified people who have not found a trade, do not hold a college degree and given them a recognized skill. Many of the top-level painters at Dean Baldwin Painting began their careers with no aircraft experience and now after training and job experience are in lead and supervisory positions earning upwards of $60,000 per year.
“This represents a $20 million-dollar private investment and up to 115 new jobs” says Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority Chairman Robby Fountain. “This also signifies the growing presence in Macon-Bibb County in the aerospace industry”.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dean Baldwin Painting to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and are looking forward to the jobs and economic impact the new facility will bring,” says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert. “Paired with the aviation education programs at our airports, we are becoming a hub for aviation and aviation-related industries.”
“As the No. 1 state for business, Georgia has established itself as a leader in aerospace, attracting investment from some of the industry’s top companies,” said Governor Kemp. “I am certain that our highly-skilled workforce will meet Dean Baldwin Painting’s needs as they set up shop, and we are grateful that they chose to invest in Macon-Bibb County.”
About Dean Baldwin Painting LP.
For over 54 years Dean Baldwin Painting LP. has been setting a high standard for aircraft painting and customer service by continually providing consistently the highest aircraft refinishing service in the aviation industry. With a reputation for value and integrity, the company has built lasting customer relationships throughout the aviation industry. With over 350 employees, we service approximately 350 aircraft each year at its’ three locations; Roswell, NM; Peru, IN and Goodyear, AZ. utilizing 11 bays capable of housing up to B747size aircraft. Dean Baldwin Painting was founded in 1965 and for its first thirty-five years was the primary provider of painting services to most of the major MROs located at the Miami International Airport. The Miami location was closed December 2003. In 1999, Dean Baldwin Painting, LP. expanded its operation and acquired a 165,000 sq. ft aircraft strip and paint facility in Roswell, New Mexico. The hangar has six temperature-controlled bays with air filtration and waste management systems. July 2003 DBP was awarded a long-term contract with ST Aerospace San Antonio to provide all paint and appearance requirements at their facility. In February 2012, Dean Baldwin Painting added the capability to repaint aircraft at the Goodyear, Arizona airport. At this location airlines have the option to paint in conjunction with maintenance. The facility can accommodate regional through B767/ MD11 size aircraft. Dean Baldwin Painting began operating its second full-service facility in March 2013. Located in Peru, Indiana, the original hangar was expanded and converted, prior to its opening, to a 159,000 square foot state of the art, strip and paint facility. This hangar has two wide body and two narrow body fully equipped, temperaturecontrolled bays and can accommodate aircraft as large as B747 and B777. Dean Baldwin Painting, LP. is registered in SAM (System for Award Management) as a minority, woman owned, small, privately held business specializing in aircraft strip and paint services. About the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority The Authority attracts new business investment and leverages its strategic partnerships to create a business-friendly landscape for Macon-Bibb. Catalyzing job growth and strengthening corporate infrastructure at its various industrial parks are key elements to its longstanding record of economic development success. To learn more, visit www.mbcia.com.