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Cochran council approves $66,667 city match for 10‑unit T‑hangar at municipal airport
Summary
The council unanimously agreed to provide a $66,667 city cash match for a $600,000 Georgia DOT grant to build a 10‑unit T‑hangar at Cochran Municipal Airport, a project officials say will generate rental revenue and support aviation training ties with Middle Georgia State University.
The Cochran City Council voted unanimously May 13 to commit $66,667 as the city’s share of a $600,000 Georgia Department of Transportation grant to build a 10‑unit T‑hangar at Cochran Municipal Airport. The total project cost is $800,000, and the Airport Authority and county commissioners have verbally agreed to provide the remaining one‑third shares.
Airport Authority Manager Jim Washburn told the council the match is larger than prior projects because the funding is state (75/25) rather than FAA (90/10). He said there are 13 people on a waiting list for hangar space and that based aircraft counts matter for future FAA funding. Washburn estimated the new hangar would produce about $2,200 per month in rental revenue — roughly $26,400 a year — for the Airport Authority and generate personal property tax revenue for the county.
City Manager Richard Newbern said the city would need to budget the match in the FY 2025‑26 budget and discussed the possibility of spreading payments over two to three years to reduce immediate budget impact. Council members asked about Middle Georgia State University’s use of the facility; Washburn confirmed the airport saves aviation students a 45‑minute bus ride to Eastman.
The council’s vote authorizes the city to cover its portion of the match and moves the project forward toward construction planning and budget inclusion.
