Rogers announced $980,000 grant for W’burg-Whitley County Airport

The Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport is getting an upgrade thanks in part to a federal grant.

U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers announced Friday afternoon that a $980,000 grant had been awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport in order to build a new 13,000 square-foot hangar.

“Our small airports are vital to business operations, emergency medical transportation, tourism and economic development,” said Congressman Rogers. “These FAA grants help supplement the support necessary in our small communities to ensure our airports are sustainable and maintain the highest safety standards year-round. I applaud our local leaders for putting together competitive grant applications that examine the aviation-related growth needed in our mountainous region.”

The new T-Hangar will feature 10 bays allowing the airport to host and maintain more aircraft, and generate more revenue.

“Whitley County is always proud to see new investments in our community, but especially ones like this at the airport that will create long-term opportunities for our community,” said Pat White, Whitley County Judge Executive. “We are very appreciative of our federal delegation working hard to help make projects like this happen.”

“We are very appreciative of the federal support and for Congressman Rogers’ work to secure funding for the FAA, which in-turn provides us with excellent grant opportunities like this,” said Jeff Shelley, Chairman of the Airport Board. “We will continue working to expand opportunities at the airport that benefit our entire community.”

Airport Manager Don Stricklin said that no concrete has been poured for the new T-Hangar yet, but other work, including environmental studies and tests, has been done.

“The concrete should be soon. Once they pour the concrete it should take off and be underway,” Sticklin noted.

Construction of the new hangar is scheduled to be complete in November.

For more information, see Wednesday’s edition of the News Journal.