MidAmerica airport to handle floral, fish cargo

MASCOUTAH -- Operators of the long-struggling MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in the Metro East will spend about $3 million to attract an international floral business.

The St. Clair County Board agreed Wednesday to lease part of the warehouse to Miami-based Teqflor, which would fly perishable items in on cargo planes.

The items then would be refrigerated at the airport until they are shipped to retailers around the country.

Teqflor would pay the county $365,000 a year in years two through 10 of the 20-year lease. After that, the rent would be based on fair market value.

A 50,000-square-foot, $7 million warehouse was completed at the Mascoutah airport in 2005, but it has stood vacant.