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County to use $2 million to build hangars at airport

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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DUNBAR TWP. — A $2 million construction project that planners say will not only improve the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport, but also the economic future for Fayette County, will likely get underway in the spring.

In a surprise announcement on Thursday at the regular meeting of the Fayette County Airport Authority, Commissioner Al Ambrosini revealed that the county is the recipient of a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant and that 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands founder Joseph A. Hardy III has agreed to match the grant amount to allow for the construction of about 40 corporate and smaller T-hangars at the county airport.

Ambrosini, who is also a licensed pilot and airport tenant, said that the airport improvement project was on his priority list when he first took office and, with the support of Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky, county grant writer Arthur Cappella and others, was able to advance the plans.

“We must take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to the county, and, as it became clearer that the county was going to receive the RACP grant, we approached Mr. Hardy and being the successful businessman that he is, he appreciated the fact that his contribution would be used to leverage the grant and improve the airport facilities,” said Ambrosini. “It was a very gracious and generous gift.”

RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the state Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

To be eligible for the grant, the amount must be matched by the recipient.

A Hardy family spokesman said that the former commissioner has long been an advocate of the airport and when he learned that neither the airport or the county could provide the matching funds, his response was, “Let’s get this done.'”

Hardy has been a benefactor to many county projects over the years but is particularly interested in the expansion of the airport to spur economic development.

“He understands that the upgrading of the airport is a crucial component to business growth and tourism in the county,” said the Hardy spokesman.

In 2007, Hardy’s philanthropy was recognized by the then-board with the adding of his name to the airport.

Although a small municipal airport, Ambrosini said that traffic at the site continues to increase, and only one hangar remains empty at the current time.

“There is a need for additional hangars,” he said. “There have been many requests for hangar space, and the airport cannot accommodate aircraft owners.”

Pointing to two new businesses — Rural King and NuWeld — located nearby, Ambrosini said that both firms have aircraft that need to be housed, fueled and maintained when executives fly in from their corporate headquarters in Illinois or Williamsport.

“With the natural gas industry growing, we are going to see additional corporate executives flying into this area,” he said.

The impact to the airport will be “substantial,” Ambrosini added.

The added hangars will allow the authority to increase its rental income and generate additional fuel sales, the only two sources of revenue generated by the airport.

Ambrosini estimated that the airport could collect an additional $100,000 in new revenue after the hangars are constructed.

Bill Gerke, board chairman, and Joe Maher, vice-chairman, said that the added income would allow the airport to be self-sustaining and less reliant on the county.

“Build it and they will come,” said Maher.

The airport was constructed in the late 1930s by the Works Progress Administration during the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency.

In addition to the federal government, the county and Connellsville helped pay for its construction.

Ambrosini said that while hangars have been built over the years, the authority has not been a part of a new construction project, that it will hold ownership from the onset.

“We will be able to bring our airport up to 21st century standards,” he said. “It will also enable the authority to really begin planning for other improvements, including the long overdue extension of the runway.”

The improvements will also have a positive impact on the county as airport service, like rail service, transportation and waterways are key assets to businesses seeking new locations.

“Fayette County has all of that and more,” said Ambrosini, adding that he will be outlining a long-term economic plan for the county within the next few months. “All of this is going to bring prosperity to Fayette County.”

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