Airport lands $1 million grant
With help from state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, the Joseph A. Hardy – Connellsville Airport has acquired a significant portion of funding to help pay for a much-needed hangar construction project. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, aided the airport in securing a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant.
“My dream, like many others in the county and those who serve on the airport authority, is to see the airport grow and develop. The facility does and will continue to play an important role in the economic development of Fayette County,” Kasunic said.
Kasunic said that in today’s fast-paced world, companies look to develop in places with easy access to air travel. Having an airport attractive to businesses increases the marketability of Fayette County, he said.
Kasunic said it was his honor to assist in securing $1 million in RACP funding to help pay for the hangar construction project.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to help secure funding that will allow the airport authority to complete another phase of construction to further enhance the amenities at the airport,” Kasunic said.
Airport authority chairman Terry “Tuffy” Shallenberger said the airport is in desperate need of new hangars and that the first step is to replace the dilapidated hangars near the terminal building.
“We’re grateful Sen. Kasunic saw the need here at the airport and was able to play an instrumental role in helping us obtain $1 million in grant money for the project,” Shallenberger said.
Shallenberger said he looks forward to seeing the hangar construction project under way, noting that the airport will then have space available to house corporate aircraft.
Airport manager Mary Lou Fast said the airport currently has to turn down requests from companies and individuals with larger aircraft wishing to store their planes at the facility because the airport has no hangars big enough to accommodate them.
“The new hangars will enable the airport to house such aircraft and will encourage further development,” she said. “There is definite interest from those who would like to store their corporate aircraft here.”
The new hangars will be located near the terminal building, to the left of the building upon entrance to the facility, and the current 11 hangars that are there now will be torn down.
Construction will include six, and possibly seven, hangars. Two of the hangars will be 62 by 65 feet and the remaining hangars will be 56 by 52 feet, all of which will be large enough to accommodate larger planes than the airport can currently accommodate.
Construction could begin as early as April and should be completed by the fall of 2011.
Fast said she is currently working to secure additional funding to match the $1 million RACP grant, adding that the RACP grant can be matched with other possible grants and/or a loan if need be.
“I’m currently investigating all our other funding options. The RACP grant will cover a significant portion of our estimated project cost,” she said.
Fast said Kasunic is a steadfast supporter of the airport.
“He lobbies very hard on our behalf,” she said. “We’re delighted to be given the grant money, and we’re very appreciative of Sen. Kasunic’s continuing commitment to the airport.”
Fayette County Commissioner Vince Zapotosky, who is commission chairman, thanked Kasunic for working to acquire the $1 million RACP grant on behalf of the county airport.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted to place a motion on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting authorizing the county and the airport authority to officially submit a proposal to the state requesting the $1 million in RCAP funding. Submission of the proposal is a formality needed to release the funds.
Zapotosky said the ability to acquire a $1 million RACP grant, especially in the current economy, where such funding is extremely competitive, is testament to Kasunic’s veteran leadership skills and knack at bringing money to Fayette County.
“This grant will help with the overall enhancement of the airport. People need to realize the airport is an important part of our continuing economic recovery,” Zapotosky said, noting that the local economy will benefit from any and all growth the Joseph A. Hardy – Connellsville Airport experiences.
Kasunic said transportation is key to economic development and that Fayette County is blessed to have a growing airport, a functioning railway, the Mon/Fayette Expressway and the Monongahela River, which allows for needed waterway traffic.
He commended the airport authority, Fast and county officials for their efforts in developing the airport.
This past summer, the airport completed a multimillion-dollar runway safety project paid for, in part, with federal and state grant money that involved establishing an earthen runway about 150 feet wide and 300 feet long for additional safety.
Kasunic helped obtain another $1 million grant for the runway safety project, which also included the installation of a primary lighted windsock and additional pavement markings and improvements.
Authority members are also working on a project to rehabilitate the terminal apron with a new overlay and construct a security fence as part of the airport’s improvement project master plan. The airport received a $633,750 state grant in March to complete that work.
Kasunic said he is a longtime supporter of the airport and that he will continue to work to obtain funding for future projects, noting that he would eventually like to see the runway further extended.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to ensure the airport continues to grow and develop,” he said.