Vista Discusses Defense and Aerospace with BAE Systems at Economic Development Incentives Conference

Vista Site Selection co-sponsored the 2026 Vorys Economic Development Incentives Conference in Columbus, Ohio on February 28.  Vista team members both moderated and participated in panels and presentations that discussed trends in site selection.  Other members of the Vista team greeted visitors at our booth and showcased how proprietary mapping tools such as The Grid by Vista and the Data Center Site Selection Tool can help users identify ideal sites for their development needs.

This is the first in a series of posts highlighting panels and presentations that Vista team members took part in during the conference.  Today’s entry focuses on “Behind The Hull: Capital, Incentives and the Reality of the Defense Industrial Base,” a presentation where members of the Vista team discussed the defense and aerospace development process. 

The session presented a case study on BAE Systems’ integrated shiplift and repair facility in Jacksonville, FL, which opened during June 2025.  The project, for which Vorys helped to negotiate economic development incentives, replaced an 80-year-old dry dock.  The new shiplift is the largest in the Americas.

Jeff Troan provides insights on site selection for defense projects such as BAE System's shiplift; he was joined (left-to-right) by Toby Borge of BAE Systems, Ron Lau of Space Florida and Vista's own Andrea Dishler.

Jeff Troan, Vista’s partner & senior managing director, and Andrea Dishler, our senior vice president of project management, represented Vista.  They were joined by Toby Borge, the director of marine construction for BAE Systems, and Ron Lau, senior vice president of corporate development & capital programs for Space Florida.

Jeff, who spent more than 30 years working for Lockheed Martin, discussed the difference between federal and state-level incentives.  He also described how to pitch projects to decision makers by using economic impact studies to demonstrate the number of jobs that will be created, both permanent and temporary.  He emphasized that many of the incentives earned for the BAE Systems project were tied to employment-gain goals.

These incentives included a 40-year property tax exemption, sales tax exemptions for materials related to the project, a 10-year utilities discount credit and many more.

The only hiccup was when Jeff claimed the project earned a 40-year no-cost lease for a state-owned parking area; Ron laughed and clarified that BAE Systems actually pays about $10 annually for the parking area.  Sometimes you need to take what you can get!

Vista has completed more than 70 aerospace and defense-specific projects.  If you’re in these fast-growing industries, our experienced team can help you find the ideal site and secure beneficial economic development incentives.