VAN WERT, Ohio (WLIO) — The Van Wert County Regional Airport has seen a major upgrade, and it could bring more business to the area.
The runway expansion project officially wrapped up in July, adding 1,000 feet of pavement, plus a 300-foot overrun. The expanded runway now totals over 5,000 feet, meeting the requirement that allows corporate jets to fly in directly. The $2.4 million project was funded through a mix of state dollars, local government and private donations. Leaders say it’s a major step for area economic development.
“It’s really essential for economic growth in the community here. So corporate jets, they won’t come to a place that they can’t land the corporate jets. And, you know, we didn’t have that before," said Jim Black, manager of the Van Wert County Regional Airport.
"And with it — with the business development properties that we have here, with the opportunities available, with the extra runway expansion — it really makes it possible for companies to come in and business to come in and look over, you know, shovel-ready businesses that are ready to go for them."
Black says their daily operations currently range from five to 15 flights, but they expect that number to rise as more pilots discover the upgraded runway.
