Governor has plans to improve existing airports, build new ones
Gov. Sonny Perdue believes that general aviation airports can play a key role in economic development and wants to have an airport with a 5,000-foot runway within 30 minutes of every Georgian.
“Air transportation is the preferred choice for business and industry decision makers in the 21st century economy,” Perdue said. “Our economic development efforts will benefit greatly from accessible rural airports throughout Georgia.”
Airports in Jackson and Lumpkin counties are on the improvement list, along with 47 others across the state. The $15 million project, which will be financed through the OneGeorgia authority, will accelerate a number of projects including runway extensions, installation of navigational aids, weather reporting stations and other projects deemed necessary to increase accessibility of Georgia’s rural airports and communities.
While the details of the exact amount and purpose of the grants are forthcoming, the news was well received in both Northeast Georgia communities.
Dale Steenburgen, president of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce, is excited about the prospects for Lumpkin County’s Wimpy Airport.
“I think it would be a huge impact to have that expanded airport,” said Steenburgen, who also is a licensed pilot. “Even if you’re talking to a prospect that does not have a private plane, they see it as benefit because it’s a transportation outlet.”
Steenburgen said that expanding Wimpy may have some logistical challenges, including a nearby road and surrounding mountains, but he is convinced that improvements can happen.
State Sen. Eugene “Chip” Pearson, R-Dawsonville, is a private pilot and uses his twin-engine, turbo-prop plane to commute between his grading business operations in Georgia and the Carolinas.
Pearson often has to use other airports, including Gainesville’s Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, to land his plane, because of the lack of general aviation airports in Forsyth or Dawson counties.
“Just ask the city of Gainesville how much their expanded hangars have added to the tax base in the city,” Pearson said, “and add to that the tax revenue from the sale of fuel. It’s huge.”
Estimates provided by the city of Gainesville showed projected revenues of $358,000 for hangar leases and more than $65,000 in revenues related to the sale of fuel and fees paid by the airport’s fixed base operator.
The estimated taxable value of planes based at the airport is $42 million. Planes owned by entities or residents of unincorporated Hall County pay a lower tax rate, while planes from out of town or within the city pay a higher rate.
The Jackson County Airport, located between the Gainesville and Athens airports, also is slated for expansion under Perdue’s plan.
Randall Pugh, president of Jackson Electric Membership Corp., which is headquartered in Jefferson, applauds the effort.
“It’s an economic development tool that any community can use,” Pugh said. “I know the county and airport authority here is working all the time to improve our airport facilities here.”
Perdue has requested that the OneGeorgia Authority structure a new financing program aimed at completing critical infrastructure improvements necessary to upgrade and improve many of rural Georgia’s aviation facility.
