Levinson: Aviation Becoming Atlantic County's 'Second Industry' as Research Park Expands

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson says the county's long-running effort to build an aviation and aerospace industry around Atlantic City International Airport and the FAA Technical Center is paying off, describing aviation as an increasingly important second industry for the region.

Levinson discussed the development of the aviation district during an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on WOND, saying efforts to attract additional companies are progressing well.

"It's going very well," Levinson said. "We have ourselves the second industry."

For a region whose economy has historically been dominated by Atlantic City's casino and tourism industries, the statement reflects an economic diversification strategy Atlantic County has pursued for years.

At the center of that effort is the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park, located next to the Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center and Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township.

Plans call for the research park to eventually contain seven buildings totaling more than 400,000 square feet of office and laboratory space devoted to aviation research, development and aviation-related STEM activities.

The park's first building opened in 2020 and became fully occupied. Tenants have included General Dynamics Information Technology, Woolpert, Signature Science and an FAA laboratory, according to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Levinson said the aviation sector has become increasingly important to Atlantic County's economic future.

"We have the top aviation corporations in the world that are here in Atlantic County," Levinson said. "So it is doing very well."

Levinson Wants More Help From Trenton

But Levinson argues Atlantic County and its partners shouldn't have to build the industry largely on their own.

"We would like a little more help from the state of New Jersey," Levinson said.

He pointed to states including Virginia and Oklahoma as examples of places he believes have made more aggressive public investments in aviation.

"If you take a look at Virginia and Oklahoma, the amount of money that they put into aviation, we did this all ourselves with our money and taxpayers' money, and it's become extremely important to our future," Levinson said.

New Jersey has, however, made some significant investments in the aviation district.

In 2024, the state announced plans for a new Aerospace Innovation Center in Atlantic County, designed to capitalize on the concentration of aviation assets surrounding the FAA Technical Center. State officials said the center would support research and development while helping attract companies working in emerging aviation technologies.

The broader aviation district includes the airport, the FAA Technical Center and the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park. A state-backed strategic plan has identified that combination of assets as a potential foundation for making New Jersey a leader in advanced air mobility, including next-generation aviation technologies.

Competition From Other States

Levinson acknowledged that attracting companies to New Jersey can be challenging because other states may offer a more favorable cost or business environment.

"Our problem is, in many cases, to lure people to come in," Levinson said. "It is New Jersey, and it's a little more reasonable in other states."

Still, he said Atlantic County has been able to overcome some of those disadvantages because of the concentration of aviation expertise already located in the region.

"We do have our hands full, but we've been pretty successful because of the competence of the people that are running not only the FAA and, of course, our aviation park," Levinson said.

That concentration is what county leaders have long viewed as Atlantic County's competitive advantage.

The William J. Hughes Technical Center is the FAA's premier aviation research, development, testing and evaluation facility. Putting private aviation and aerospace companies alongside the federal operation creates the potential for a cluster of research, technology and high-skilled employment that is largely independent of the Shore's seasonal tourism economy.

For Levinson, the goal is no longer simply to prove that aviation can become part of Atlantic County's economy.

His comments suggest county leaders increasingly view it as a second major economic engine — and believe additional state investment could help accelerate its growth.