Petaluma’s Solairus Aviation among firms getting tax credits to add workers

Petaluma’s Solairus Aviation will receive $1.1 million in state tax breaks to hire 77 new full-time pilots, administrators and other workers around California over the next five years.

The credit will help the aviation services company attract new employees and make inroads in Southern California. But it also strengthens Solairus’ ties to the Golden State, an official said Friday.

The company, which manages 120 aircraft for businesses and wealthy individuals, could locate its corporate office anywhere in the country, said chief financial officer Mark Dennen. But CEO Dan Drohan “is a Petaluma guy and he’s committed to the city, as well as the state of California.”

Solairus was the largest recipient among five North Coast companies that will receive a total of $2.7 million in tax credits, the state announced Thursday. The five were among 114 companies eligible for $91.4 million in California Competes incentives in exchange for making $828 million worth of investments and creating 8,223 jobs in California. They were approved at a board meeting in Sacramento of Gov. Jerry Brown’s GO-Biz agency.

The other four local businesses include Labcon, a Petaluma medical research products supplier. The company will receive $800,000 in tax credits in exchange for adding 47 full-time workers and investing $17.4 million.

Sonoma Springs Brewing Company, a Sonoma brewery, will receive $200,000 in credits for adding 17 jobs and making nearly $1.5 in investments. MacKinnon Products, a Sonoma maker of equine therapy products, will receive $50,000 for adding four workers and making nearly $179,000 in investments.

And in Lake County, First Pick Builders of Lakeport will receive $450,000 in credits for adding 19 jobs and making $1.34 million in investments.

“In just three short years, over 680 companies have made commitments to expand in the state,” said Panorea Avdis, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, known as GO-Biz. Those businesses have agreed to add nearly 71,000 full-time jobs in exchange for receiving $492.5 million in tax credits.

Solairus now has more than 500 employees around the U.S. Nearly 150 are based in California, including about 60 in Petaluma.

As part of its state commitment, the company intends to spend $275,000 to expand its office space in Petaluma in the next few years, Dennen said.

Solairus needs highly skilled workers, and the tax credit “allows us to offer more competitive salaries,” Dennen said.

You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 707-521-5285