January 4, 2012
RALEIGH – As part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s commitment to improving aviation in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Aviation awarded $5.46 million in federal block grant funds to Concord Regional Airport for a capital improvement project.
The funds will be used to strengthen the existing taxiway and aircraft parking apron. As larger and heavier aircraft use the airport, the increased pavement strength will be needed to support the extra weight.
“Concord Regional Airport is one of our state’s busiest general aviation facilities,” said Division of Aviation Director Richard Walls. “The project will allow the airport to further expand its operations and better serve this region.”
These funds came from a $22.8 million Federal Aviation Administration block grant that the Division of Aviation received at the end of September and will administer. The Division will award multiple sub grants through the program to general aviation airports across the state for a variety of capital improvement projects.
Concord Regional Airport has an approximate $110 million a year total impact on North Carolina and supports more than 860 jobs, based on a 2006 statewide economic impact study.
Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office in 2009, the Division of Aviation has awarded more than $125 million in funding to state airports. These funds enable airports across the state to provide improvements that support economic development and job opportunities.
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/010412-WEB-concord-airport-qcd
Source: SULISBURY POST
Date: 2012-01-04