Harvey County approves ground lease with Shield AI at Newton airport for aircraft testing and data operations

The Harvey County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 28 to approve a ground lease and brokerage agreement that will allow Shield AI Inc. to occupy the south portion of Hangar J at the Newton City-County Airport.

Airport staff described the leased area as roughly a 10,000-square-foot hangar with about 6,000 square feet of office space and three acres of adjacent land on the east side of the airport. The lease approved by the board includes a five-year initial term with two five-year extension options and is set at fair-market rent, county staff said; the terms are consistent with Federal Aviation Administration requirements for airport leases.

Brian Palmer (airport staff) presented the lease and the related brokerage agreement with Hughes Marino, which brokered the transaction. Jacob Miller, a Shield AI representative, told commissioners the company develops artificial-intelligence-enabled aircraft platforms and conducts component testing, engine testing and extensive data analysis; he said the Newton site will support testing and systems-integration work and include outreach to local vocational schools.

"As we build a new aircraft... a lot of what is key and important for us to move our milestones forward is taking those individual components, testing where we take one system, tie it into another system out there, and then run those systems," Miller said, describing on-site testing and data work. "A lot of component testing, data analysis, engine testing, and that's what can be expected out there."

Commissioner (speaker 4) moved to approve the ground lease with Shield AI and the brokerage agreement with Hughes Marino, subject to minor staff edits for typographical errors. Commissioner (speaker 3) seconded the motion; the board approved the lease by voice vote.

County staff said the lease is structured at fair-market value and includes standard provisions for airport property; commissioners asked staff to make minor clerical corrections before final execution.

The lease and company presence are expected to bring technical work to the airport site and provide opportunities for local workforce outreach; the board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript, and the action passed by unanimous voice vote in the meeting.