Bradford Regional Airport will receive $50,000 in state funding
through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of
Aviation toward the initial engineering phase for a proposed
multi-tenant center project on airport grounds.
Airport officials hope the establishment of the
30,000-square-foot center will eventually lead to more economic
development at the facility – which will shortly boast of a
Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory near the potential site of
the multi-tenant center.
Additional funding for the project could be forthcoming in the
future through the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and
Development Commission in Ridgway, which has listed it as its
highest priority for receiving state grant funds. In August,
airport officials announced an application for $500,000 in state
funding through the Economic Development Association had already
been submitted for the project.
As it stands, only 12 airports across Pennsylvania received a
portion of the $5 million allocated by the state for projects
designed to improve and expand terminals, runways and hangars. The
grant was approved by Gov. Ed Rendell and the Legislature.
“This is the initial phase of the project,” Airport Director Tom
Frungillo said. “It’s just one of the steps that has to be taken to
achieve this. Although the initial request wasn’t a large amount,
it will help set us up for the next phase in this development.”
Officials said the center would be located on a multi-acre site
which has already been cleared near the airport’s beacon along the
access road into the airport. It would also be located in an
already-established Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone (KOEZ).
U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., said while the funding comes
from the state level, “Every dollar invested in the Bradford
Airport is a dollar invested in the economic future of McKean
County in particular and the surrounding region in general.
“I’m happy the governor shares my commitment when it comes to
making sure rural parts of our state remain connected to, and
continue to be vital parts of, the national transportation
network.”
State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, echoed those
thoughts.
“It (funding) just shows there are good things happening at the
airport and this is just one more step in that direction,” Causer
said.
Frungillo called the grant “very competitive,” adding it will be
used for initial engineering and environmental work.
Possible construction could occur in either 2008 or 2009,
according to airport officials. A series of environmental studies
and marketing efforts would also be part of the process before any
actual development could begin. Frungillo did say, however, that
engineering work could begin sometime early next year.
“Hopefully, this paves the way for in 2008 looking for a request
of half-a-million dollars,” Frungillo said. “The state has (orally)
committed to funding this. We are interested in trying to do what’s
best for us.”
Frungillo said he believes there is potential to fill the
center.
“We’ve had businesses interested in locating at the airport, but
past concerns have been there was no water and sewage up here,”
Frungillo said. “Now we have that. I think we can fill the space
and it (business) doesn’t necessarily have to be
aeronautical-related.”
Previously, Frungillo said some possibilities to fill the center
could be an air freight service or something that would work in
conjunction with the proposed armory.
Meanwhile, Frungillo said airport officials also have to work
closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, which has to give
its blessing to any development.
“The FAA doesn’t want you selling airport land,” Frungillo said.
“They have a vested interest in this airport. They don’t like
anything to interfere with the air space up here.”
A call seeking comment from state Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren,
whose district the airport is located in, was not immediately
returned as of Wednesday night.
