The new airport will include a 5,000 foot runway which will accommodate corporate aircraft. The funding announced by Boucher will enable all of the construction work to take place except for the paving of the runway, taxiway and ramp area and lighting of the facility. Boucher said he will seek a final federal grant for these costs later this year. When completed, the airport will serve the new federal prison in the Hickory Flats area of the County, enabling Bureau of Prisons personnel to travel with greater ease to and from the new federal facility. The new airport will also serve existing Lee County businesses and the County s two industrial parks.
Lee County has an existing industrial park located in the Hickory Flats portion of the County.
A second industrial park is currently under construction in the western portion of Lee County. The new water sources will serve the new industrial park. The presence of a well developed airport is an essential element in the recruitment of new employers to a region. The construction of a new airport for Lee County will be an invaluable tool in promoting economic development for Lee County and will be a major asset in attracting new companies to the County s two industrial parks. Construction on the airport is expected to begin in the near future and will take approximately one year to complete.