Let me begin by reminding you of the history of Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. It was originally developed as an Army base and was the world’s largest glider pilot training base during WWII. Following the war, the airport and its surrounding property were given to the towns of Laurinburg and Maxton in Scotland County. A combined municipal commission was formed to manage the facility, with the chairman alternating each year from each municipality.

While some may know the airport as the home of the US Army Golden Knights, military ground and air training with two certified drop zones, the airport and the area offers much more in support of our local community.

In addition to the aviation section of the airport, the LMA Commission manages a wastewater treatment plant that services its surrounding industrial park. Since LMA’s main source of revenue currently comes from the sale of water and usage of its wastewater treatment plant, development of the industrial park is a primary goal. Sale and lease of surrounding properties also contribute to LMA’s revenue, so the development of the industrial park is critical for LMA to continue our expansion plans.

The Laurinburg-Maxton Airport’s customers include all airport tenants (commercial and noncommercial) and the community. The Airport is committed to preserving a balance between business /corporate and recreational/pleasure aviation activities, while also attracting new business and jobs to the airport and the surrounding communities. We envision a community that takes pride in the airport and recognizes the economic value the airport brings to our area. Accordingly, it is important the local residents and business owners recognize the potential impact of the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport on our community.

In order to keep the airport competitive and attractive to aviation opportunities, and of value to industrial site residents, we have undergone a number of projects in recent years, and have a number of others planned or in progress. Please note that our projects are funded by the North Carolina DOT and the Division of Aviation — local matching funds only account for approximately 10 percent of costs. Some of our projects include:

— A new 6,500-foot lighted runway was resurfaced and equipped with high-intensity lights in 2011 at a cost of $5.5 million. In 2013 a resurfaced parallel taxiway was completed a cost of $4.2 million.

— The airport completed the Rehabilitation of Connector Taxiway E in December of 2016 at a cost of $1.2 million.

— Our next project will be the Localizer Replacement at a cost of $500,000 to be bid out in April 2017

— A future project will be the Apron Rehabilitation and Taxilane & Hangar Development at a cost of $1,764,000. To be bid out sometime early fall of this year.

From an economic impact perspective, perhaps one of the most important parts of the Laurinburg Maxton Airport is the industrial park associated with the area. The Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Industrial Park is located three miles north of the central business district of Maxton and east of Laurinburg. As the largest industrial park in the southeastern region of North Carolina, the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport

Industrial Park comprises more than 4,000 acres of prime industrial sites, with almost 1,000 acres available and ready for industrial and commercial development.

The LMA Industrial site is a self-supporting facility, offering full-service infrastructure – from an airport to water and sewer. This “one-stop-park” streamlines the location process and fosters a long-term, no hassle relationship for infrastructure, utilities and transportation. Additionally, the airport industrial park has the advantage of having available property that is site ready for development, including a 323-acre mega site or certified site.

The convenience to rail, air, water and interstate transportation has been a primary talking point and advantage over other industrial parks in the region. This advantage has been accentuated by the airport improvements I referenced above. For example, the 6,500-foot light runway, equipped with high-intensity lights, full Instrument Landing system, approach lighting, with no covenants or deed restrictions and no impact fee make the industrial park an even more attractive asset.

To help further facilitate local economic development, the site was sold to Scotland County Economic Development Corporation in February, 2017. As we all know, Scotland County officials announced that Mountaire Farms will launch a feed mill operation that will bring 65 good paying jobs to the area with an investment of $44 million at the county’s certified site located in the industrial park at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. The airport commission was excited to have been a part of the support for Mountaire to locate in Scotland County.

My name is JoAnn Gentry, executive director at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. Our doors are always open to visitors for tours of the airport and grounds. There are many positive activities happening every day at LMA. If you have never visited the airport, please take the time to come and see what is here. You will be amazed. And excited about how we help make Laurinburg/Scotland County a better place to live, work and play.

You can visit the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport website at lmairport.com.

JoAnn Gentry

Focus on Scotland

JoAnn Gentry, executive director at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, wrote this week’s Focus on Scotland, an effort by community leaders on making Laurinburg/Scotland County a better place to work, live, and play.