Local airport receives backing
Portage County officials believe the Portage County Regional airport has the potential to be a big driver of the county’s economy, but right now it isn’t being used to its full potential because of a lack of funds to maintain the facility.
The airport, which was built nearly 30 years ago, is mired in a multitude of issues that are causing it to remain stagnant, said Sabrina Christian-Bennett, Portage County chairwoman and candidate for Portage commissioner.
“They are doing the best with what they have,” said Christian-Bennett. “(They only have) a budget of $100,000 for two part-time employees, (to) maintain the airport, hangers and the runway.”
The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) and the county help fund the airport, and in past years there have not been enough financial resources to run the airport successfully. However, just recently the airport received a grant of $440,700 to rehabilitate the runway. FAA funding requires the airport to match 5 percent of the money, and the state must also put forth 5 percent, leaving the FAA to fund 90 percent of the airport’s projects.
Along with this grant, she said the newly elected president of the airport, Chris Gilmore, has recruited business-minded people for the airport’s board of trustees to get things rolling in the right direction. She said in the past the board was mainly made up of hobbyists who were volunteers and didn’t have the time to make the airport into something more useful than just a home for their recreational planes.
“The airport has potential now that they have the board’s support, (but) it takes time to get there,” said Christian-Bennett. “The airport can be very instrumental to economic growth.”
She said the Portage County Regional airport is an underutilized “diamond in the rough.”
Local Airport Receives New Funds for Operation from Lauren Stebelton on Vimeo.
A small number of businesses and locals use the airport now, but international businesses like Ametek, Davy Tree, Caterpillar and Godfrey and Wing, which all have locations in Ohio, could use this airport if the runway was both lengthened and widened.
According to the website AirNav, which gives information about all airports across the country, the runway at Portage County is in “poor condition” and lacks proper markings and lighting for landing planes.
Along with these structural and indicator issues, the length of the runway is limiting the airports use, said Christian-Bennett.
FAA guidelines indicate that the Portage County Regional airport’s runway falls under the category of serving “small” airplanes, with its size of 3,499 x 75 feet.
If the runway was longer and in better shape, she said, bigger planes could land and airport use would increase—and increased use means increased profit.
Brad Ehrhart, the president of the Portage County Development Board, agrees about the possibilities for the airport and the local economy if the airport gets a makeover.
“There is a lot of opportunity to attract more if the runway was widened,” said Ehrhart. “… Bringing increased investment, family employment, new businesses and more money into our community.”
#JMCRPP After nearly 30 years Portage County Airport receives the support it needs to succeed https://t.co/7jpqRMhvlv
— samantha (@samlough9) September 20, 2016
