the firefighting end and the paramedic side.” Regarding the airport’s parking lot for local automotive traffic, Collins reports that he just signed the contracts for an upgrade to its 1975-era parking lot at the main terminal as well as its entry roads. “That project is over a million dollars, and it was funded by our state program called Rebuild Illinois. That project will get underway in September. Our new parking lot will have over a hundred spots, an entry road coming in, a scenic area with a lakeshore shelter (we have a big lake on our property) as well as an entrance road going into the new southwest development of Innovation Park.” “Another project that’s probably two years away is a new snow removal equipment building or maintenance building,” Collins adds.“That is going to be located just west of Runway 33 on the perimeter access road.” Currently, the snow removal building is located in Innovation Park, which Mount Vernon Outland Airport is developing for new aviation businesses that need access to both the airport’s runways and the highway. Luckily, Mount Vernon Outland Airport is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 57 and 64, making it easily accessible to major markets such as Memphis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Chicago. MOUNT VERNON OUTLAND AIRPORT IS A CARGO TRANSPORTER The airport is also located at the nexus of five Class 1 railroads – three that come through Mt. Vernon and two that just touch the edge of it. “The Norfolk Southern Railroad passes just to our south and the Evansville & Western, a short line railroad, joins the 7 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 09 MT. VERNON OUTLAND AIRPORT
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