Business View Magazine | May/June 2022

136 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5 project that provides strategic guidance for future development, both Authority derived improvements and ground lease options. And with four entities that own the airport, Morgan County, Limestone County, the City of Athens, and the City of Decatur, this document will play a pivotal role in setting the airport up to better serve as the ‘gateway’ for jobs and growth in these areas.” Being owned by four different entities means the airport requires appointed board members who serve as the Airport Authority. With so many parties involved, it requires close communication, which ultimately makes for an incredibly dynamic team. It also means that the airport serves as an incredible asset to all these entities, who are all pro- development and pro-growth. The airport’s state-of-the-art terminal building was built in 2008 and has 7,200 square feet of space – a welcoming “front door” to Pryor Field and the region, at large. Just like at every regional airport in America, hangar space is in high demand. With that in mind, DCU has programmed in hangar project for its fixed-based operator (FBO) within its Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) that would provide space for transient business aircraft. At Pryor Field, the Pryor Flight Center (FBO) is run by the Airport Authority, and they are in charge of all the services offered. As part of the airport’s pro-development and pro-growth plan, the team has already identified 22 acres of land on the airfield for property development or “red dirt” areas. These lots will be ready for companies to build their vertical construction projects, including hangars and facilities. Additionally, 85 acres have been identified for future MRO facilities as well. The management team has just completed a bidding process for development in the northern region of the airfield. Fox elaborates, “We’re rolling out the project in a three-phase plan, with the taxiway construction being a part of phase one. Currently, we are working with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the FAA to get funding for this development. The taxiway could provide access to three hangars if approved by the board.” This new development should loosen the pressure of demand