Airport borrows $200K from American Rescue Plan funds for grant match

NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors agreed to front the Natchez-Adams County Airport $200,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds to begin construction of a $1 million 10-unit airport hanger at Hardy Anders Field.

In April, it was announced that the airport was receiving an $800,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation that requires a $200,000 match.

The airport intends to pay the county back with the increased revenue that the new hangar will bring, said Airport Director Richard Nelson during Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

“We’re looking at any way we can come up with the money for this on our own … but we’re to the point that I have to show that I have the money available,” he said.

Supervisor Wes Middleton made the motion on Monday to lend the airport $200,000 from ARPA funds to fill match requirements. His motion was seconded by Supervisor Warren Gaines and it was passed unanimously by the board.

The Board of Supervisors attorney Scott Slover said tree cutting around the airport would generate another $100,000 from the timber and the airport should be able to make up the difference quickly.

“They’re supposed to generate additional revenues of $40,000 because of this, so they should be able to pay us back fairly quickly,” Slover said.

When it was announced, Nelson said the grant funding would help meet a serious need at the airport, where hangar space is limited.

Hangar rent is also increasing starting Oct. 1 to reach the FAA’s fair market value requirements. The airport is also doing well on fuel sales, Nelson said Monday.

“So far this month, we’ve sold over 6,000 gallons of jet fuel. We normally sell about 5,000 a month,” he said.

The post Airport borrows $200K from American Rescue Plan funds for grant match appeared first on Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper .