Triangle Region Airports Receive over $6 million in NCDOT grant

RALEIGH  – The N.C. Board of Transportation approved a combined $6,112,976 in funding for four Triangle Region airports in Granville, Johnston, Person and Franklin Counties. The projects in the Triangle Region include:

• $2,484,000 for rehabilitation of the runway pavement at Henderson-Oxford Airport
• $1,269,176 to prepare the site for a future fixed base operation and maintenance facility, and $325,800 to update the airport layout plan at Johnston County Airport
• $513,000 to remove Runway 6 obstructions at Person County Airport
• $1,521,000 to rehabilitate airfield lighting at Triangle North Executive Airport (Louisburg)

“Regional airports play a major role in business attraction, as well as supporting local economies. Having six regional airports in the triangle region offers a significant competitive advantage,” Ryan Combs, Executive Director of Research Triangle Regional Partnership said. “Raleigh-Durham International is our region’s largest economic driver with an impact of $8.5 billion each year. As RDU commercial air service continues to grow, regional airports are a great alternative for private aircraft, corporate jets, and tourist attractions such as skydiving.”

Of the 10 counties in the Regional Partnership, six have regional airports; Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Person, and Wilson counties. The six regional airports have a combined economic impact of over $268.4 million to North Carolina, support 1,300 airport-related jobs and generate over $12 million in state and local taxes, according to the NCDOT 2016 report. Regional airports serve as vital economic drivers in the local communities by generating economic activity, commerce and tourism.

NCDOT approved a total of $24.7 million in funding to airports across the state to provide improvements such as better runway lighting, new fuel tanks and safer taxiways. Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $31 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to a 2016 report, and support 123,400 airport-related jobs across the state.

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership is an economic development organization sustained by and committed to 10 core counties located in central North Carolina. It serves as a connector between businesses looking to expand or relocate, and the economic development offices, government agencies, and business organizations that support private sector growth.

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