Wichita Mayor Brewer discusses Hawker Beechcraft's future

(WICHITA, Kan.) — What’s being done to keep Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita? We sat down with Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer for a candid conversation about the city’s role in keeping the aviation company in Wichita.

Eyewitness News:  “How involved is the city when it comes to talking with Hawker?

Mayor Brewer:  “We've been talking to Hawker on a regular basis and trying to do everything we possibly can within our power to see what we can do to make sure all jobs stay in Wichita.”
Eyewitness News:  “Can you give us any details of where things stand right now?”

Mayor Brewer:  “I can’t give details of negotiations because information like that is confidential.  We don't discuss negotitations as we're working with the companies.  But I do want citizens to know we're fighting and doing everything in our power to be able to protect jobs.  We want to remain the Aviation Capital of the World.”

Eyewitness News:  “Some published reports say a deal has already been made to move Hawker to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”  (Hawker officials have repeatedly said no decision to relocate has been made yet.)

Mayor Brewer:  “We continue to talk with Hawker and will fight to keep every single job here.”

Eyewitness News:  “How difficult it is to compete with other communities?  Does the city, county and state have enough incentives to offer?”

Mayor Brewer: “We just have to fight really hard with other cities and other states because they do provide some incentives that we do not provide.  Cash is always big and everyone recognizes the economic challenges the State of Kansas has but I can assure you that we are doing everything we possibly can.”

“It's just like your household when there's something that you need.  Everyone in the family starts coming together to figure out if it's that's important, let's find some way to make this work.”

Eyewitness News:  “Can you give an example of how it’s tough to compete?”

Mayor Brewer: “In the South, they have the tobacco tax they can use to offer up economic incentives. You have other states that have oil and special taxes they can offer up.  What we have here in the City of Wichita is a skill set and skilled labor that no one in the world can compete with.”

Eyewitness News:  “So if Wichita had to compete against a community that could offer millions of dollars in incentives, it is fair to say it wouldn’t happen?”

Mayor Brewer:  “It is challenging when you start looking at the dollar.”

Eyewitness News:  “Hawker workers are wondering what the city is doing to try and keep jobs here.”

Mayor Brewer: “Be patient with us.  I know it's difficult with whatever rumors may be going on out there.  I've heard some of the rumors.  I've even answered phone calls about some of the rumors.  Some of them are not true.  Others we don't know.  Our job is to check into rumors and find what is fact.”

Eyewitness News:  “Do you have a timeline when you hope to hear something from Hawker?”

Mayor Brewer:  “I don’t have a timeline.”

Eyewitness News:  “At this point, are you optimistic about the future of Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita?”

Mayor Brewer:   “I'm always optimistic that we're able to do something.”