After three years of construction the Golden Triangle Regional Airport has finished its terminal expansion.
U.S. 1st District Rep. Trent Kelly, Sen. Roger Wicker and Golden Triangle LINK CEO Meryl Fisackerly stood alongside airport board members and officials holding golden scissors to cut a red ribbon signaling the new terminal was open for business. The expanded terminal includes an 8,200-square-foot waiting area, two escalators, an elevator and a jet bridge to replace the existing outdoor ramp.
“I’m not going to tell any secrets … but there’s more to come,” Wicker said during his keynote speech. “If the people that I hear are expressing interest come forward and do what we expect of them to do, there’s even more to come, and we are at the dawn of a huge opportunity for job creation for the Golden Triangle and for Mississippi.”
Wicker, Kelly and Fisackerly all highlighted how robust airport infrastructure and this expansion will allow for further economic development in the region by attracting executives during their speeches Friday.
“(Job creation is) a lot more than just transportation infrastructure, but it really helps,” Kelly told The Dispatch. “And if they can’t get here to start with they most assuredly won’t come here. So this is a huge piece. … That ease of effort rather than driving two hours makes an immense difference.”
The $12 million expansion was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration along with a smaller state grant, Matt Dowell, GTRA Executive Director, told The Dispatch.
“I think people want us to be careful with federal tax dollars, and when they see us build facilities and assets that are going to add to our attractiveness to job creators, I think, the public supports that,” Wicker told The Dispatch. “… This is an example of good government.”
Dowell told the crowd that GTRA has had a $275 million economic impact to the region with airports throughout the state bringing in a $2.5 billion impact to Mississippi.
Dowell said the expansion and jet bridge should serve as “future proof (of GTRA’s) ability to serve large aircrafts.”
Dowell said they have already been seeing increased traffic, especially with the addition of service from American Airlines last year. As such, the airport’s next projects will be to expand baggage claim and parking to accommodate the new influx of passengers.
“We haven’t run out of parking yet but we do have some gravel,” Dowell told The Dispatch. “…When we heard American Airlines was coming we hurried up and expanded, and we have to continue expansion slowly but surely in the future.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
