A growing aerospace parts manufacturer may land in Post Falls' backyard, at the former Jacklin Seed facility along Interstate 90.

The city council has directed consultant Nancy Mabile to apply for an Idaho Community Development Block Grant for $494,427 to help fund infrastructure upgrades for the possible relocation project of Unitech Composites in Riverbend Commerce Park.

"The city is excited about the prospect of having a large aerospace business in Post Falls," said Hilary Anderson, the city's planning and economic development manager.

"If the grant is approved and the company relocates to Post Falls (from Hayden), it would be a success for the region as well as the city because it means that more than 140 jobs in the aerospace industry would remain in the area and opportunities for at least 50 new jobs would be created. The company also plans to increase by an additional 100 employees within the next five years."

Unitech, spread over 60,000 square feet in six different buildings near the Coeur d'Alene Airport, has committed to creating 50 new jobs as a result of the possible relocation. Of those jobs, 26 will be for low- to moderate-income workers. Salaries for the new hires will range between $22,880 and $24,960 per year, according to the grant application.

Tim Shuburg, general manager for Unitech Composites, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The company is under contract with an architectural firm for the relocation project and building and site plans are being developed.

Unitech, a division of AGC AeroComposites, was formed as a joint venture in 1979 between Unique Fiberglass in Post Falls and Fibertech in Kalispell, Mont.

The company manufactures aerospace parts for about 30 customers, including Boeing and Airbus. The parts are used for both military and commercial applications. The firm's market is both domestic and international. Production and sales have been increasing 25 percent per year during the past three years, the application states. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter toured the company two years ago.

Under the relocation proposal, the city will commit a match of $140,700, including a waiver of annexation fees, engineering oversight and legal staff; Jacklin Land Co., which operates the commerce park, $302,400 for mostly water and sewer extensions; and Unitech, $6 million in facility renovation and moving costs.

The grant application will be submitted to the Idaho Department of Commerce by Monday. City officials believe a decision on the request could be made in July. Construction on infrastructure would start in September and be completed in November.

Bruce Cyr, of Jacklin Land Co., said the entire Jacklin Seed facility is 170,000 square feet. He said Unitech would occupy 85,000 square feet, plus the 12,000-square-foot office building.

"We'd love to keep Unitech in Kootenai County," Cyr said, adding that Washington and other states have been trying to lure the company away. "In my world, until the dotted lines are signed, it's not a done deal. But I like where it's headed."

Cyr said the North Idaho College professional-technical program is also still on the table to occupy a portion of the Jacklin Seed facility. The NIC board is expected to make a decision June 23 on where to relocate PTE programs.

Cyr said the Jacklin Seed site needs to be annexed into the city to make it more developable. He said the process would be complete by the time Unitech or NIC moves to the site.

The infrastructure project would include constructing a sewer lift station and roadway improvements.

Other Community Development Block Grants in recent years have gone toward Underground Force and Sysco in Post Falls and the downtown revitalization project in Spirit Lake.