Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 12

182 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 turned into a commercial base for engineers and related careers. The team has developed this core curriculum in conjunction with the flight school.” Funding is always a challenge, but Carson and his team has been stalwart champions in going after new grant opportunities. They are currently concluding a $420,000 Master Layout Plan grant that is awaiting FAA approval. In 2019, the airport was awarded a $1.7 million LED light and sign rehabilitation grant. This has helped with energy costs and improved safety. In 2020, the airport was awarded $600,000 for pavement and taxiway rehab design project, including the expansion of the apron and more tie-downs. This grant then led to another grant from the state being awarded to the airport in 2021 for $11.9 million for airfield pavement rehab and apron construction expansion. A final grant in 2021 of $1.6 million was approved for secure access to the north end of the airport for corporate tenants. PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Town of Rolesville www.rolesvillenc.gov n Franklin County Economic Development Commission https://www.franklinedc.com/ n CBRE|Raleigh www.cbre.us/raleigh In regard to green initiatives, the airport was given two EV charging stations by Wake Electric Membership Corporation, which are free to use. Carson hopes that one day the airport will be home to electric aircraft as many of the surrounding state universities are doing pioneering work in the field. Moving into the future, Carson has a goal for growth over the next three to five years. He elaborates, “I continue to advocate for a runway expansion. We’re currently at 5,500 feet by 100 feet wide, and by increasing the surface area we’re hoping to attract new jet traffic.” On the corporate side, they’d like to carry on developing relationships with businesses, as well as increasing operations that allow the airport to meet those FAA standards to justify the runway extensions. So many great possibilities are on the horizon at Triangle North Executive Airport.