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http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040117/airlines_virgin_schwarzenegger_1.html
Reuters
Schwarzenegger sells Branson on Calif. airline base
Saturday January 17, 2:46 pm ET
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Living up to his promise to be California's most visible salesman, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is lobbying Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. (VA.UL) founder Richard Branson to base his fledgling U.S. carrier near San Francisco, an aide to the actor said on Saturday.
"He's working on bringing it to California," a Schwarzenegger aide, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. "The governor is always working on bringing jobs to California and this is one way of doing it."
The lobbying comes amid stiff competition with Boston and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. for Branson's new Virgin USA.
Schwarzenegger and economic development officials are seeking to bring Virgin USA to San Francisco International Airport so it may better compete with its nearby rival, Oakland International Airport, used by low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines Inc. (NYSE:LUV - News) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (NasdaqNM:JBLU - News).
A Virgin USA headquarters could employ some 400 to 500 people with a local payroll of $30 million annually, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Schwarzenegger and local officials have offered Virgin USA some $18 million in state and local funds to train new employees, the newspaper noted.
Boston is offering low-cost leases at a city-owned industrial park, a $3,000 tax credit for local workers and $1.5 million for training, according to the Boston Globe.
Officials with Virgin USA, which is expected to select its U.S. base within a few months, could not be reached for comment.
The Hollywood icon reportedly began lobbying Branson after meeting him on set of the upcoming movie "Around the World in 80 Days," which cast both men in small parts.
Reuters
Schwarzenegger sells Branson on Calif. airline base
Saturday January 17, 2:46 pm ET
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Living up to his promise to be California's most visible salesman, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is lobbying Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. (VA.UL) founder Richard Branson to base his fledgling U.S. carrier near San Francisco, an aide to the actor said on Saturday.
"He's working on bringing it to California," a Schwarzenegger aide, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. "The governor is always working on bringing jobs to California and this is one way of doing it."
The lobbying comes amid stiff competition with Boston and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. for Branson's new Virgin USA.
Schwarzenegger and economic development officials are seeking to bring Virgin USA to San Francisco International Airport so it may better compete with its nearby rival, Oakland International Airport, used by low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines Inc. (NYSE:LUV - News) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (NasdaqNM:JBLU - News).
A Virgin USA headquarters could employ some 400 to 500 people with a local payroll of $30 million annually, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Schwarzenegger and local officials have offered Virgin USA some $18 million in state and local funds to train new employees, the newspaper noted.
Boston is offering low-cost leases at a city-owned industrial park, a $3,000 tax credit for local workers and $1.5 million for training, according to the Boston Globe.
Officials with Virgin USA, which is expected to select its U.S. base within a few months, could not be reached for comment.
The Hollywood icon reportedly began lobbying Branson after meeting him on set of the upcoming movie "Around the World in 80 Days," which cast both men in small parts.