NewHavenBIZ

New Haven Biz-October 2021

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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | O c t o b e r 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 9 Last Modified Art Director Copy Writer 1" = 1" None Trim CT Commercial Lending Print Layout None Project Bleed Project # Document Name 21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M3.indd 21-LBB-0045 Version # M3 BB NB JC Colors In-Use Fonts and Linked Graphics Forma DJR Deck Regular DIN Condensed Light Forma DJR Display Bold Forma DJR Text Regular, Medium Cyan Magenta Yellow 10" x 6.75" User Printer Output Date 9-10-2021 8:44 AM Becky Bowman None 8-24-2021 8:47 AM Mech Scale Print Scale Mechd By: BB RTVd By: None M3 For nearly 200 years, Liberty Bank has been behind companies that think big. We provide commercial loans, mortgages, and working capital lines of credit that can be tailored to meet your business's current needs and those in the future. Loans for $1,000,000 and up. Scan the QR code to call a Commercial Lending Officer today or visit liberty-bank.com/ct-commercial-lending to find a local lender. Loans, lines of credit, owner-occupied and investment mortgages up to $50 million. All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Seven-figure business loans for million-dollar ideas. A PPP loan from Liberty Bank helped Fishers Island Oysters, located off the coast of eastern CT, support their passion of a livelihood that works with nature, preserves family values, and gives back to others. fishersislandoysters.com #BeCommunityKind CP26135_21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M3.indd 1 CP26135_21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_NHBJ_10x6.75_M3.indd 1 9/14/21 3:33 PM 9/14/21 3:33 PM that are at max capacity. In New York the demand outstrips the capacity even though there are new projects. For them operating in those markets is very costly. is is really a bet for the long term, the same for Avports. is is really a long-term operation and vision. Avelo is a new airline; are you convinced they will be there for the long haul? ere are a couple of questions there, one is why do airlines come to an airport? It's because there's a market. If you look at the history of air- lines in this country, there's been a lot of consolidation, others have gone bankrupt. Nonetheless the service is still there, there's always going to be a carrier serving that demand. I feel very confident about Andrew Levy, who is the founder, chairman and CEO of Avelo Airlines. He was also previously a co-founder and pres- ident of Allegiant Air, which is one of the most successful low-cost carriers [that is not currently serving Tweed] and very profitable. He sees an opportunity in the [New Haven] market and I think that the business model that he brings, with more accessible fares, fills a void in the market that a lot of other carriers are opening up. He's setting it up for success. At the same time, there's an under- lying market there too in the event he is not successful. We'll do everything we can to enable that success but if not, there will be another carrier that will satisfy that demand. How does Tweed fit in with Avport's portfolio of airports? We approach our relationship at every airport individually — I would not say that one airport is more important than the oth- ers because that's what's enabled us to be successful over the last 94 years. We really attend to the individual needs of our clients. In the case of the New Haven airport, it's really expanding, enhancing the relationships we've developed for the last 22 years. e need here was access to capital to enable them to develop these facilities, but also to assume the risk. If something goes wrong, it's our responsibility now, to make it financially viable. We feel confident we have that ability and that history of doing that. I think the conditions are there with the expertise and now the alignment between Avports, the Authority, the city — but equally important with the community as well. I think there's a lot of support and enthusiasm and momen- tum to position the airport for success. How do you plan to address the concerns of the neighborhoods around Tweed? e reason we've been successful over 94 years is that we've learned how to coexist and be good neighbors with the community. Here it's no different. e concerns of the community in New Haven, it's something we see at every airport. In order for this project to work over the long term, the community has to be a key stakeholder and support- er of the airport. e goal is to make it sustainable and the vision here is long term, not short term. We'll continue to be responsive, we're going to continue that dialogue. We have not shied away from it. Both Avport and the Airport Authority want to create that spirit of transparency and just be straightforward and accountable and resolve as much as we can of those concerns and needs. What are the challenges and opportunities for airports right now? e pandemic has allowed the indus- try to take a hard look in terms of how we can capture the benefits of the age of accelerated innovation. How do we bring technology to solve a lot of the environmental concerns? ere's a lot of focus on climate change and that's something we are very concerned about too in making sure we fu- ture-proof both the facilities and our operation. On the opportunity side, it's become much more affordable to be a sustainable airport, putting in LEED principles, designing facilities that can be very cost-effective but environ- mentally sustainable. ings like solar panels are becoming much more ubiq- uitous that allow us to meet those challenges. We're seeing things in the fu- ture like electric vertical takeoff and landing aircra: ere are a dozen companies racing to develop it and the FAA is getting more comfort- able with the technology. at is going to be an interesting disrupter. e other is autonomous vehicles, both on the land and air side, along with the electrification of vehicles and aircra and the use of hydrogen power. ose are all challenges that need to be met with a nimble and commer- cial-minded operation. We bring that piece, allowing us to bring that technology to an airport so it can be a beacon and catalyst for economic growth. n Jorge Roberts speaks to New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

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