Martin County unveils hardened operations building at Witham Field

Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard, chair of the Board of County Commissioners, unveiled a new 8,600-square-foot hardened operations building at Witham Field in Stuart during an on-site ceremony, saying the facility will support continuity of operations during major events and serve as a staging site during disasters.

Heard said the airport — founded in 1928 and later named Witham Field for Paul Homer Witham, a Martin County native who died in World War II — is a major economic engine for the county. "With a $1,300,000,000 economic impact, it serves as the largest economic engine for Martin County residents with no impact on their tax dollars," Heard said.

The facility houses multiple aviation businesses and public-safety assets. Heard named Atlantic Aviation and APP Jet Centre as two fixed-based operators at Witham Field and referenced Precision Jet Center/Precision Jet Services and an aircraft manufacturer she identified as Dahera. She also said Witham Field is home to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that was the first intermodal clearance facility built in Florida and noted the nearby Martin County Fire Rescue public-safety complex.

Describing the new building, Heard said it is "hardened" and "a safe spot for us to continue operations during major events and also to be a recipient site when we do have disasters." She asked attendees to tour the building after the remarks, then invited fellow commissioners and staff to join her for a ribbon-cutting.

Heard also noted community events tied to the airport, saying Witham Field hosts the Stuart Air Show, an annual November event. She pointed visitors to a viewing platform she identified as "Andrew McBean's Terrace." The commissioners and staff present joined Heard for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the unveiling.

No formal vote or ordinance was recorded in the transcript excerpt for this item.