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Hernando County airport projects progress but construction funding lags, staff says
Summary
Airport Manager Steve Miller told the Port Authority the county holds remaining FAA and FDOT grants for ramp and HVAC projects, listed several new and expanding tenants, and said runway designs are complete though construction funding remains unresolved.
Steve Miller, Airport Manager, told the Hernando County Port Authority that several airport projects are underway or in design but that construction funding remains a challenge.
Miller said the county has roughly $3 million to $3.5 million left in FAA airport infrastructure grant funds to apply to projects such as rehabilitation of the general aviation ramp and the T‑hangar ramp. He said design work for runway rehabilitation and a runway extension is complete but the county lacks construction funding for those projects.
On the administration building, Miller said a $400,000 FDOT grant will fund HVAC replacement for the roughly 6,500 sq ft building. The amount drew pushback from one commissioner who said the quoted figure seemed high; Miller said the project includes reverse engineering original plans and delivering a modern, code‑compliant system.
Miller also described an FAA‑recommended wildlife fencing project that had nearly $2 million in prior appropriation to replace or extend fencing and add skirting to about 15,000 feet of perimeter fence to reduce wildlife incursions. He listed taxiway design funding (approximately $700,000) and said staff is seeking FDOT or other sources for runway construction.
The airport also saw tenant activity, Miller said, naming several companies relocating or expanding on airport property, including aviation‑service hangars, a beverage distribution tenant and logistics and manufacturing firms. He said some firms are moving from neighboring counties into Hernando County.
Miller said airport security upgrades — cameras and access control — and an HVAC project are slated for completion soon; staff will continue to pursue state and federal grants for larger airfield projects.
Next steps: staff will pursue funding opportunities for runway construction and continue to brief the board on grant applications and tenant developments.
