SANTA MARIA, Calif.- After 20 years, a local airplane business lands in some hot water and could be forced to shut down after the owner says she may be evicted.
"There's only 162 aircraft facilities in the country and I am one of them," said Teresa Arredondo, owner of Artcraft Paint.
Teresa Arredono owns and operates one of the rarest aircraft facilities in the country, Artcraft Paint, located at the Santa Maria Airport.
"Over 28 years, the aircraft painting facility has brought this community millions of dollars," explained Arredondo.
Arredondo's business may soon be all gone. The Santa Maria Airport Board wants Artcraft Paint out because Arredondo was late on paying the bills.
"I had paid the airport over $1.7 million in rent. Has the airport lost any money? No. I always paid any legal fees, any late fees anything that I owe. I paid them," said Arredondo.
While Arredondo says she's paid all of the payments, employees are worried about what may be next.
"Were going to be out on the streets looking for something else," said long-time employee, Antonio Arredondo.
On Thursday, employees say they will ask the board for a 5-year extension.
"It's going to be predicated on the fact that Artcraft make good on its payments each and every month for the first year then they can earn an additional four years," said Tom Widroe, spokesperson.
While Artcraft Paint is in desperate need to survive, employees hope they can fight to stay open for former employee, Glen Ray, who died last week in a plane crash on Oceano Dunes.
"I think it would be a tremendous dishonor to his memory to allow Artcraft to go out because the airport board decides not to simply renew their lease," said Widroe.
Central Coast News reached out to the board members and the airport manager but they said they cannot comment on this issue.
