Tullahoma Approves Money For Airport

A $40,000 appropriation to get a matching grant to repair Tullahoma Regional Airport’s northwest taxiway and install lights has been approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, but Alderman Jimmy Blanks questioned how much good the overall community will benefit from the effort. Blanks asked why the city should chip in $40,000 to go toward a matching that could be interpreted by some as going toward “just people who own planes.” Alderman Mike Norris said the funding is about economic development, and with a 95 percent-to-5-percent funding mechanism — with the Tennessee Aeronautics Division paying the greater share — the city can’t go wrong.
Daryl Brady, Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corp. executive director told the city board that the airport has land available that needs to be used to attract business and industry. The board unanimously approved the request.