MAXTON — Big changes are coming to the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, the first of which is a new name for its governing board to Southeast Regional Airport Authority.

“We are proud to say that we will be expanding the runway,” said Seth Hatchell, assistant director of the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. “We are taking the now 2,000 foot runway and turning it into one that will be 8,500 feet.

“This will allow larger aircraft to use the airport, which will bring new industry and opportunities to the area,” added Hatchell.

Hatchell emphasized that change can be difficult but is often necessary.

“Change is sometimes difficult,” said Hatchell. “There has been much debate and discussion about the airport project. We feel that this will mean progress for all the surrounding communities.

“After World War II,” added Hatchell, “the government created a partnership that was an industrial park and economically driven. In the ‘70s we would sometime see 20 new industries a year — but now things have slowed down. It is our hope that this extended runway will allow for new opportunities and industry to utilize the grounds, therefore bringing more jobs and businesses.”

Hatchell expressed his thankfulness to those who have made this possible and to those who spoke at Friday’s briefing.

“The Southeast Regional Airport Authority looks forward to partnering with the city of Laurinburg, town of Maxton and Scotland County as we strive to become the primary force for economic development in the region,” said Hatchell.

“Of course,” continued Hatchell, “none of this would have been possible without your assistance in the House on Senate Bill 795. Thank you for your dedication to Scotland County and the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport specifically.”

State Rep. Garland Pierce spoke at the briefing as well on Friday.

“The future is bright,” said Pierce. “It is a great day in Scotland County and Maxton. We are all in this together.

“It has been great working with Sen. (Tom) McInnis,” he added. “On a project like this, the House and Senate have to be in agreement. We have worked together and have had a great working relationship.”

The project will be one that takes time to complete, but Pierce and McInnis are both in agreement that it will be one worth waiting for.

“I believe that if servicemen from a long time ago could come back,” said Pierce, “They would be happy with what is happening. I pray that we continue to grow.”

McInnis thanked all of the government officials in attendance.

“Government starts at the base and without that base we cannot be effective, we need those of you on the local level to help those of us on the larger level to make things happen,” he said.

“Doing the same thing over and over again the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity,” added McInnis, “And we don’t want to leave a legacy of doing the same thing with the same result. We want and need to work together to make these changes happen.”

According to McInnis, there is a very different dynamic when comparing urban areas such as Raleigh and rural areas like Scotland County and Hoke County.

“We aren’t going to stand for bigger areas allowing the more rural ones to be forgotten,” said McInnis. “We have just as much right to improvement as those in Raleigh and Charlotte.

“We won’t stop fighting and we won’t stop getting what we ask for,” continued McInnis. “It isn’t just about the airport, it is about economic development and prosperity that has not been seen.”

Future plans past that of the runway are in the works as well.

“We plan to have a new facility and a new terminal at some point in the upgrade,” said McInnis. “We have here what many other facilities do not. We have a water and sewer system, we are close to the interstate, there is high-speed internet available and we have more land that can be utilized. We have around 4,000 acres compared to other facilities that only have around 400. I also believe in our local farmers and their desire to better this area that may also have even more land that could be used.

“We have the best-kept secret here, but it isn’t going to be a secret much longer,” added McInnis. “This will be a game-changer.”

JJ Melton can be reached at jmelton@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com.