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Lufkin, Angelina County approve study, taxiway funding and lease to support aviation training
Summary
The Lufkin City Council voted to share costs for an airport master plan study, contribute $100,000 toward a taxiway, and authorize a lease to support an aviation training and maintenance initiative at Angelina County Airport.
The Lufkin City Council on a voice vote approved three measures to advance an aviation training and economic development project at the Angelina County Airport: a $25,000 city contribution to a $50,000 airport planning study, a $100,000 city contribution toward construction of a taxiway, and a resolution authorizing the city economic development director to execute a lease for airport land.
The measures are intended to support the Lufkin Aviation Innovation Complex, a project the city’s economic development director said will include space for aviation maintenance training tied to Angelina College. Bob Sanford, Lufkin economic development director, told the council the partnership will create training opportunities and “create a job creator at the Angelina County Airport” with plans for a 6,000-square-foot building and a curriculum that could serve about 100 students.
Sanford said the first request is for the city to pay half of a $50,000 master-planning study by KSA to produce a growth strategy and artist renderings of the airport layout; the council approved the $25,000 share after a motion and second. The council separately approved a $100,000 contribution toward a new taxiway to support hangar and aircraft access and passed a resolution authorizing the Lufkin Economic Development Director to execute a lease for parcel(s) at the airport.
Angelina County Judge Keith Wright praised the county-city-county-college cooperation and said working together increases the chances of securing federal support such as runway extension funding. Mike Simon, president of Angelina College, said the project aligns with the college’s mission to prepare students for “jobs where a student can make a living wage” and described the local partnership as rare and positive for workforce development.
Council members and staff emphasized the project’s potential to attract aviation businesses and provide hands-on training locally rather than sending students elsewhere. The city’s 4B Economic Development Board had unanimously recommended participation in the study and related airport initiatives.
The approvals advance planning and site-preparation work; separate procurement and construction steps will follow. The council took each of the three measures separately and approved all three by voice votes.
