SOARING IMPACT: Greenwood airport seen as economic engine

Businesspeople from Atlanta landed at the Greenwood Municipal Airport recently, went to a meeting and flew home three hours later.

Such trips can result in new contracts or orders for local companies and help boost the economy.

The city-run airport contributes an estimated $27.3 million a year to the economy of Greenwood and surrounding areas, a recent study found. That estimate reflects the airport’s total impact, such as to rental car agencies, which see higher sales because of people flying into the city, and on jobs at local businesses, where employees have to make frequent jet trips.

Greenwood’s airport also helps support 105 jobs in the community and about $5.6 million in salaries, the study found.

The Indiana Department of Transportation, the Aviation Association of Indiana and the Conexus Indiana workforce development agency did the study, which looked at the economic impact of airports across the state, including Greenwood. Aviation board president David Kovach said the findings showed the airport at County Line Road and Emerson Avenue had a significant impact on the local economy.

Greenwood has been working to boost the airport’s economic impact even more. This year, it is spending about $490,000 in local tax money on projects aimed at improving the airport. The city also has $1.1 million in federal funds to lengthen the runway in the hope of attracting more jet traffic.

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