Atlantic County Aerospace Park Preparing Space for New Tenant as Expansion Moves Forward, Risley Says

Commissioners chairman says another 5,000 square feet is being fitted out as county officials work to attract high-paying aviation and technology jobs.

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Atlantic County's efforts to build a second major industry around aviation and aerospace technology are moving forward, with additional space being prepared for a prospective tenant at the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park.

Atlantic County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Risley said during an October 29 appearance on Klein Time with Dan Klein on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND that the county's expanding aerospace research complex is attracting continued interest from companies seeking to locate near the Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center.

"Now we're building a second structure, another building, and we're fitting out an area right now for a tenant, another 5,000 square foot for a tenant that wants to come in there," Risley said.

His comments come as the research park transitions from constructing its second building to preparing space for companies involved in aviation research, engineering and emerging technologies.

The prospective tenant has not been publicly identified, and Risley did not indicate whether a lease has been signed or when the company might begin operations.

However, his comments provide another indication that the park's expansion is progressing beyond its original development phase.

Second Building Represents $18.5 Million Investment

The National Aerospace Research and Technology Park occupies approximately 58 acres adjacent to the FAA Technical Center and Atlantic City International Airport.

The park's first building, which opened in 2019, became fully occupied with aviation research companies, government agencies and educational partners.

That success helped drive construction of a second, approximately 40,000-square-foot research and office building.

In October 2024, the Atlantic County Improvement Authority awarded a $14.3 million construction contract to T.N. Ward Company.

The Atlantic County Economic Alliance's 2025 annual report identifies the overall second-building project as an approximately $18.5 million investment, with completion anticipated during 2026.

The distinction between those figures is important: the $14.3 million represents the construction contract, while the $18.5 million figure reflects the broader project investment.

A July 2026 report by Autonomy Global said construction had been completed and the building was undergoing interior fit-outs, with multiple prospective tenants in active negotiations.

Risley's October comments suggest that work to accommodate prospective occupants is continuing.

The second building is also designed to house an Aerospace Innovation Center, part of New Jersey's Strategic Innovation Center initiative.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has committed $8.6 million toward the innovation-center effort, which is intended to support aerospace research, emerging companies and collaboration between industry and government.

The broader project has also received support from federal, state and county sources.

Risley: Aviation Can Bring High-Paying Careers

Risley said the park is an important part of Atlantic County's effort to attract employers offering skilled, well-paying jobs.

"Success breeds success," he told Klein.

"And we've gotten some grants from the federal government. And the bigger we get, the more grants we'll get. And the more things will happen, the more people will be employed out there."

He emphasized that the jobs associated with aviation research and development can offer career opportunities beyond the region's traditional tourism and hospitality industries.

"And by the way, these are not $15, $20 an hour jobs," Risley said. "We're talking about real, well-paid jobs, careers."

The chairman did not provide a current employment count for the research park or an estimate of how many jobs the prospective new tenant might create.

Those figures remain important in evaluating the project's economic impact.

Atlantic County has long sought to diversify its economy beyond casinos and seasonal tourism, with aviation research becoming a central part of that strategy.

County Executive Dennis Levinson has previously described aerospace and aviation as an emerging second industry for Atlantic County.

The concentration of federal aviation facilities, private research companies and educational institutions near Atlantic City International Airport provides a foundation for that effort.

Companies Already Operating at the Park

The park's first building has attracted a variety of aviation and engineering organizations.

Tenants identified by Atlantic County include General Dynamics, Woolpert, the National Institute of Aerospace, the FAA and the Atlantic County Institute of Technology.

Other companies that have occupied space include Applied Research Associates, Quecon and Signature Sciences.

The organizations work in fields that include aviation systems, engineering, scientific research and emerging aerospace technologies.

Atlantic County officials said in 2024 that space in the first building had been reconfigured to accommodate additional companies, demonstrating demand for smaller research and office suites.

The second building is intended to provide additional capacity for established firms, startups and organizations requiring specialized research facilities.

Its design allows tenants to customize interior space for their particular technological needs.

Rocco Mancuso, the research park's director of operations, told Lab Design News that the building would include shared conference rooms, collaborative workspaces and facilities intended to encourage joint research.

He said the project would support work involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous systems and secure aerospace technology.

Seven Buildings Planned for Full Development

The long-term vision calls for seven buildings containing more than 400,000 square feet of research, office and laboratory space.

Risley said the county hopes to continue expanding beyond the first two buildings as occupancy and funding permit.

"So the build-out is seven buildings," he said. "It's a 58-acre property owned by the federal government."

"And we're up to the second building. And hopefully we can keep going."

He said future expansion will depend in part on generating revenue and attracting additional businesses.

"Hopefully we can keep going and have the third and get up to seven buildings," Risley said.

There has been no confirmed announcement of financing, a construction contract or a groundbreaking date for a third building.

For now, the immediate priority appears to be completing tenant improvements and securing occupancy in the second facility.

Drones, Autonomous Aircraft and Aviation Safety

Risley pointed to several areas of technology development that could help attract businesses to Atlantic County.

"These folks that come here, the companies that come here, they're doing improved safety on passenger planes," he said.

"They're doing improved methodologies of technologies on drones and autonomous vehicles."

The research park's location offers access to the FAA Technical Center, which plays a major role in developing, testing and maintaining systems used in the nation's airspace.

Research involving unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, aviation safety and autonomous systems is expected to become increasingly important as federal regulators establish standards for emerging technologies.

The FAA and NASA have also collaborated on advanced air mobility research connected to the park.

That work includes examining the safety implications of new aircraft technologies and the systems needed to integrate them into existing air traffic operations.

Risley said collaboration with the FAA has been central to the park's development.

"The collaboration is ongoing," he said. "It's been ongoing from day one."

University Partnerships Could Help Develop Workforce

The county's aviation strategy also involves building relationships with universities and technical education programs.

In August 2025, the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, the research park and Rowan University signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an academic consortium focused on aviation research and innovation.

According to the alliance's annual report, discussions have also involved Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University and Princeton University.

The effort is intended to connect university researchers with government agencies and private companies while creating opportunities for students interested in aviation, engineering and technology careers.

Stockton University has also been involved with the research park since its early development.

The county hopes those relationships will help create a pipeline of skilled workers and make the region more attractive to aerospace employers.

What Comes Next?

The next milestone will be determining which companies occupy the second building and how quickly the additional space fills.

Risley's disclosure that approximately 5,000 square feet is being prepared for a prospective tenant suggests progress, but several questions remain unanswered.

The prospective company's identity has not been announced.

It is also unclear whether the company has finalized a lease, how many employees it would bring to Atlantic County or whether the positions would represent new jobs or relocations.

The current occupancy rate of the second building and the timetable for filling its remaining space have not been independently confirmed.

Those details will help determine how quickly the publicly supported investment translates into additional employment and economic activity.

For Risley, the broader goal is to establish Atlantic County as a recognized center for aviation research and development.

"And I'm just so proud of it because that's the future," he said. "Atlantic County has to market our aviation industry."

With its first building occupied, its second facility moving through tenant preparations and a seven-building master plan still in place, the research park remains a central component of Atlantic County's economic diversification strategy.

Whether the next phase leads to additional tenants, jobs and a third building will depend on the park's ability to turn growing industry interest into long-term commitments.