The Johnston Regional Airport on Swift Creek Road near Smithfield was one of nine airports across North Carolina to receive funding for safety and development projects during the May meeting of the NC Board of Transportation.
The nine projects total nearly $13.6 million in state and federal funding for projects that will help these airports grow, such as new hangar sites and updated safety lighting.
The largest amount, about $4.1 million of the funding will go to Statesville Regional Airport to construct a new aircraft parking apron and car parking lot.
$560,000 in additional economic development funds was awarded to Johnston Regional Airport towards site development for a fixed-based operator and maintenance facility.
$1,075,570 was approved for the development of a site for T-hangars to store small, private aircraft at Duplin County Airport.
$3,500,000 in funding from the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program was awarded to the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport to construct a taxiway and hangars.
North Carolina airports serve as a vital economic engine connecting people and business enterprises with the world, and are among the primary economic drivers in their communities. Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $52 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to the 2019 State of Aviationreport. They support 307,000 jobs, generate more than $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenue and provide more than $12.6 billion in personal income.
The funds awarded do not necessarily represent the total cost of the project.
