Ground was broken Wednesday on an $8.7 million enhancement project at the Trent Lott International Airport, an investment officials say will cost the airport’s capacity to support more industrial and commercial development along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Officials gathered at the airport in Moss Point to put shovels in the ground for the project being funded by local, state, and federal sources. It will include the construction of a new concrete aircraft parking apron and connector taxiway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation.
“Today’s groundbreaking is another example of our strong partnerships at the local and federal levels,” said George Freehand, executive director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. “I am grateful to Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and our county and city partners for their investments of time and resources. Together, Jackson Countians get the job done.”
Upon completion, the expansion project will provide approximately 15,000 square yards of apron space for parking of aircraft and frontage for the future development of new aircraft hangars. The apron expansion comes on the heels of recent widening of the airport’s runway, which has already helped increase usage, officials tout.
Rex Foster, chairman of the Jackson County Airport Authority, believes the project is just the beginning of a bright future for the Trent Lott International Airport, which he believes will offer military application and services. His belief is the project will serve as a segue to more growth in the area’s economy.
“This groundbreaking ceremony marks a major step forward for our airport and community,” Foster said. “[It] is not just an investment in airport infrastructure, it’s an investment in our community’s economic future. With the support of local, state, and federal partners, we’re creating the capacity to attract new business, support military and aviation operations, and strengthening the economic engine that drives growth in Jackson County.”
Those who played a role in making the project happen were the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, Mississippi Department of Transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Some of the funds also come from the RESTORE Act of 2012, which was passed in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“This project would not be possible without the vital support and funding from our local, state, and federal partners, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to each of those agencies,” Trent Lott International Airport director Cinnamon Snyder said. “Together, we are investing in infrastructure that will strengthen our commitment to safety, improve capacity, and support economic growth for years to come.”
