Carbon County awards $2.28 million bid for airport maintenance hangar to support AMP training program

Carbon County commissioners voted to award the bid for a new airport maintenance hangar and advanced related engineering work to support an AMP (airframe and powerplant) aviation mechanic training program operated with Utah State University Eastern (USU).

Commissioner Hopes said the project builds on a 2019 agreement with USU that created classroom space at the airport and expanded a flight program that has grown from a single plane to five. "We're gonna build a it's an 80 by 130 foot building that will house, 2 classes of about 25 students," Hopes said, describing two teaching bays and engine workstations for hands‑on training. Hopes said the program includes AMP mechanics who can work in aviation and in local industries, including power‑plant turbine maintenance.

At a May 29 bid opening, the county received one timely bid for the maintenance hangar. Commissioner Hopes reported the engineer's estimate at $2,800,000 and said Tusher Contracting submitted a bid of $2,278,500; a second bidder arrived 1 minute 37 seconds late and was not accepted under procurement rules. Commissioners approved awarding the contract to Tusher Contracting by voice vote.

County staff told the commission the project is funded in part by Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), each described during the meeting as contributing about $1,000,000 toward the training facility, with FAA entitlement funds to be used for ramp and apron work. The commission also ratified an extension of a 2021 contract with Jones & DeMille Engineering to perform additional water and sewer design for the airport to meet sprinkler and fire‑protection requirements for the new building; the Association of Local Governments (CERDA) offered $20,000 toward that engineering work.

The hangar will include space to disassemble and reassemble airframes and engines, test engines after rebuilds, restrooms and small lab areas, and dedicated airframe and engine stations. A commissioner in the meeting relayed that the university has said graduates from the program have a strong placement outlook; during the session an unnamed participant stated the university had represented a "100% guarantee to get a job" for program completers (claim attributed in meeting remarks).

What happens next: the county will finalize the contract with Tusher Contracting and proceed with the engineering design work to upgrade the airport water system before university occupancy of the training building can begin. Timeline and contractor mobilization dates were not specified in the meeting record.