Developer Jay Jolly seeks city’s $500,000 contribution for Collegedale airport hangars; TDOT grant, private investment outlined

Jay Jolly, president of Sky Boss HQ, urged Collegedale commissioners at a workshop to approve about $500,000 in city site-work funding to enable two private hangars and related improvements at Collegedale Airport.

Jolly said the project pairs a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) economic-development grant, a private investment from Sky Boss, and an expected city contribution. "The grant is for $1,285,000, of which 90% comes from TDOT and 10% has to come from the city or the airport operations," Jolly said, summarizing terms in the April 16 business letter he submitted to staff. He framed the central question for the commission: "Should the city invest a half a million dollars in the airport for the construction of this project?"

Why it matters: Jolly said the two hangars would increase hangar rental and fuel sales—key revenue streams for the airport’s enterprise fund—and create local jobs and an estimated multi-year economic impact. He said TDOT has agreed to fund an airport layout plan and that the grant must be used for economic development that brings private investment.

What was proposed and who would pay: Jolly described two Sky Boss entities: SkyBoss MX, a 3,600-square-foot maintenance hangar focused on experimental aircraft, and SkyBoss HQ, a roughly 10,560-square-foot management hangar that would house 7–10 aircraft and provide a members’ lounge and concierge services. Jolly put…