Augusta Regional Airport wants to make room for avionics and aerospace companies on about 130 acres near its runways.
Such companies are passing the city by because of a lack of space, airport Acting Director Tammy Strange said. The plan would open the land to development and could lead to an estimated 250 high-tech jobs in Augusta, she said.
More tenants would mean more revenue for the airport.
Augusta Regional will receive $8.5 million for its "Eastside Access Economic Development Program-Element 1" if the $184.7 million special-purpose sales tax package passes in June. Ms. Strange said the money would be used to build a road off Doug Barnard Parkway south of the airport entrances. The road would cut around the safety zone at the end of runway 17/35 and lead to lots where companies that service and build airplanes could put up buildings.
The money would cover right-of-way acquisition, drainage improvements and hooking up electricity, water and sewerage.
The land adjacent to Bush Field's runways was recently named one of the "101 Great Locations in the South for Aviation and Aerospace" by Southern Business & Development magazine. Airport Marketing Director Diane Johnston said that in the past four years, four aviation-related companies have expressed interest in Augusta Regional but moved on because all the space near the terminal is taken.
About 400 people are employed full time by the airport and its current tenants, she said.
"What we're trying to do is prepare ourselves for the future," Ms. Johnston said.
The airport first asked the city for $15.9 million to open access on both sides of the east-west runway 8/26, $9.6 million of which was for southeast side, or "eastside." But when the special-purpose tax package was trimmed, the airport was left with just $8.5 million.
"The project cost is an estimate," Ms. Strange said.
Because penny sales tax funds take time to collect, and because property has to be acquired, the project might take three years, she said.
The Savannah, Ga., airport has jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., and the Greensboro, N.C., airport landed HondaJet. Augusta could have something similar, she said.
"It will be self-supporting," Ms. Strange said of the development plan. "It will also be good for the economy by bringing in extra jobs."
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
Another project
The city's next special-purpose sales tax package, up for a vote June 16, has $2 million for Daniel Field Airport.
Director Buster Boshears said the money would go toward renovating the two floors of the terminal and creating a new entrance on the side facing the parking lot and Highland Avenue. Visitors currently have to walk through a gate and around a hangar to go in.
He said preliminary renovation plans call for an elevator and a new stairway. The terminal's second floor has a conference room that could be a community room, but it's accessible only by a spiral staircase.
The 'EASTSIDE ACCESS' Plan
Augusta Regional Airport wants to use sales tax funds to open up about 130 acres near its runways for avionics and aerospace companies, potentially creating 250 high-tech jobs.
Comments
I hope that what I am reading isn't true. They don't know what the cost would be so they made a guess that they could do $15.9 Mil project for $8.2 Mil. Sounds like we will be spending a lot of money for a project that potentially is a flop from the begining. I say if it is a project that the county needs then fund it period and quit half A**ing things, thats how we got into trouble with the Judicial and TEE centers.
GulfStream is currently laying off and furloughing employees. Doesn't make much sense to bring in a struggling industry.
I work at Gulfstream and have been in Aviation since 1981. The industry goes through bumps but whats killing the business jet industry right now is the negative press aimed at those products. What we need to remember is that industry provides millions of jobs across the nation and not worry about the fact that some rich guys are flying them to pick up their stimulus money. For the most part those jets are used for commerce and are quite the job generator. So let the rich boys fly their jets as long as it keeps thousands employed. Bring on the construction. The industry will recover.
$600+ round trip from Augusta to Atlanta! Why not use the money to bring in an airline with decent fares and use the airport for what it was built for?
When the airport was remodeled, why wasn't at least one true retail / vendor space created? The one little coffee cart on wheels is inadaquet, especially if Augusta hopes to bring in additional flights or airlines. With advance check-in requirements, most people shop or eat while waiting to board their flight. So what if they made the lobby bigger, prettier etc. it is still nothing more then a shack with 2 - 4 gates.
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