ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - It’s dropped out of the headlines but a local economic official says the plan to create a China Hub at Lambert Airport is still alive.

“It is anything but dead,” World Trade Center – St. Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak said.

Nowak tells KMOX that, based on commitments already made by the freight-forwarding community, local officials will be back in Jefferson City next year, looking for funding to help the hub take off.

“A very direct incentive package for somewhere in the neighborhood of around nine years, ten years, to help build this momentum and help mature this market for back-haul air freight”

Nowak says they’ll be looking for about $60 million from the Missouri legislature. World Trade Center officials know, based on discussions with those in the freight-forwarding sector, that’s the kind of incentive package airlines and freight forwarders are looking for.

“The airlines want to sign a multi-year agreement with Lambert, they need to know that there is a commitment on our end to help mature this market.”