The
Statesville Regional Airport is contributing millions of dollars to the local
and state economies, as well as supporting hundreds of jobs connected to the
operation of the airport, according to a recent report released by the N.C.
Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation.
The report contains 2019 data from the state’s network of 72 publicly owned
airports, and the aviation and aerospace assets that rely on them. It shows the
Statesville airport as having a $139.2 million impact on the economy, including
funneling more than $8.7 million to state and local tax revenues.
“The report shows an increase of close to $5 million in the economic impact of
Statesville Regional Airport since 2017,” said John Ferguson, airport manager.
“This information is important to analyze our growth, and especially this year,
as we recover from the effect of COVID-19 on our 2020 operations.”
However, Ferguson was quick to add that the airport is currently seeing fuel
sales numbers “that show we are already beginning to recover.” He explained
that the airport experienced some good solid months of business in late 2020,
and with the awarding of a $137,500 CARES grant, 2021 is in better shape than
expected.
In addition, since 2013, Statesville Regional Airport has received $28,815,637
in federal and state grants to assist with on-going construction projects. The
local share of these projects was $253,342 for the city and Iredell County.
NCDOT Division of Aviation recognizes the importance of the Statesville
Regional Airport to North Carolina. Currently four construction projects will
be underway in the next 2-3 months, representing $16.35 million in federal
funds and $237,500 for the local share.
The report, released every two years, shows that 850 jobs and $41.38 million in
personal income are impacted by the Statesville airport’s operations. Ferguson
said the job impact numbers don’t show how many people are employed at the
airport, but rather how many jobs in the community provide services or goods to
those who use the airport. He gave the examples of pilots who fly in to the
airport and patronize local restaurants, rent cars and stay in local hotels, as
well as businesses that rely on the airport for their operations.
Ferguson said the data in the report is provided by the airports. “The Division
of Aviation use the data to formulate the impact to the state and communities,”
he continued. In the recent report, “North Carolina: The State of Aviation”,
revealed that the state’s public airports annually contribute $61 billion to
the state’s economy, supporting 373,000 jobs that generate $15 billion in
personal income and $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenues.
“I am pleased with the results of the 2019 report,” said Ferguson. “Our goals
for 2021 are to continue to provide high-level aviation services to our region
and help grow our economy. This report shows we are on the right road … I
should say, runway.”
The entire report and more information about the Statesville Regional Airport
can be found at www.statesvillenc.net/airport.