Airport gets $1 million grant

Published 12:27 am Wednesday, April 5, 2006

By By Janet Little Cooper
Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis made a crash landing at Atmore Airport leaving behind mass destruction.
The airport, no longer a hub of activity, sits desolate with only the sounds of bulldozers working nearby.
That sound, however, is music to the City of Atmore's ears. The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded the City of Atmore with a grant for $1,423,385.51 to rebuild Atmore's only airport.
"The airport in any town is the key to the city," Atmore airport manager Robert Earl Godwin said. "Anybody that has a business and is interested in coming to the area is going to look at the airport and see if it is up to date and code."
According to Atmore Mayor Howard Shell, Volkert Engineering out of Mobile has been retained as the engineering of the project and will be subbing out the different phases of the project to different contractors.
Construction crews are currently excavating the area in preparation for the new construction that is expected to be complete in about 150 days.
The new construction includes a large maintenance building, a series of aircraft T-hangers and a connecting taxiway to the existing runway that will also run to the new maintenance building.
"The maintenance is primarily for repairs on aircraft and equipment," Godwin said. "But it can be used for airplane storage if need be. The hanger will be used to store private aircrafts. Most people who own planes do not like keeping them outdoors."
Godwin and Shell both agree that the new additions and upgrades made to the airport will hopefully attract new businesses to the area. Godwin referred to the renovations as a calling card for the area.'

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