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Foothills Regional Airport cites $6 million state grant, plans hangars and taxiway expansion
Summary
Airport manager Brent Brinkley told the Burke County commissioners that the Foothills Regional Airport received a $6 million state grant for new hangars, a $5.9 million federal grant for a parallel taxiway extension, and reported a $25 million annual economic impact; commissioners accepted the report 5-0.
Brent Brinkley, airport manager at the Foothills Regional Airport, told the Burke County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 that the airport has secured major funding and is planning hangar, taxiway and terminal-area projects.
Brinkley said the airport received $6,000,000 in state grant funds to build several new hangars and a $5,900,000 federal grant to extend the parallel taxiway; he said the county’s support and work by local legislators helped secure the state money. "These projects are truly game changing for the airport," Brinkley said.
The manager said the airport has a 5,500-foot runway, three instrument approaches and about 1,100 acres, with roughly 60 home-based aircraft and a waiting list of about 90 people seeking hangar space. "We have around 17,000 operations per year and 60 home based aircraft," he said. Brinkley also cited a statewide economic-impact study showing the airport produced a $25,000,000 economic impact, supported about 125 jobs and generated about $1,500,000 in tax revenue.
Brinkley outlined completed projects including a backside access road and runway protection-zone land acquisition for runway 21, and described planned work: construction of T-hangars in spring 2025, terminal-area expansion to host additional hangars, and an extension of the parallel taxiway to reduce runway occupancy time. He said Cobalt County Economic Development (transcript: "Cobalt County") received $50,000 for environmental work tied to terminal-area work.
Brinkley also described the airport’s role during hurricane Helene, when the facility supported more than 100 operations a day for weeks, hosted military personnel in the terminal and received relief supplies flown in or driven from across the U.S. He said the airport supports flight training, aerial firefighting, search-and-rescue and medical flights that bring spending to local businesses.
Commissioner Randy Burns asked for and received confirmation that about 90 people are on the hangar waiting list and that the airport currently houses about 60 aircraft. After questions from commissioners about nearby restaurants and the mix of recreational and business users on the waiting list, the board voted to accept the airport report as presented, 5-0.
The airport presentation concluded with Brinkley offering to answer follow-up questions and affirming construction hopes for 2025.
Ending: The board accepted the report and recorded it in the meeting minutes; the airport will move forward with grant-funded projects and continue coordination with county staff and state and federal funding partners.
