the valley producing 75% of America’s hops and serving as one of the world’s largest hop suppliers, business jets frequently transport international buyers during the annual September hop harvest. “We have a big volume of travelers who come in every September for their annual hop buy,” Hodgman says, highlighting how aviation infrastructure directly supports the agricultural economy that employs nearly 29,000 workers locally. MODERNIZING MCALLISTER FIELD The terminal modernization project encompasses practical needs and community sentiment. Built in 1950, with its last major renovation in 2000, the facility requires substantial updates to meet contemporary aviation demands. Yet the upgrade plans address more than infrastructure alone. “When I arrived, the community told me they wanted three things,” Hodgman recalls. “They wanted the 4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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