Business View Magazine l October 2022

231 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 10 VENANGO REGIONAL A I RPORT The local area supports Venango Regional, and the airport helps with some popular community events to give something back. Each year the Experimental Aircraft Association puts on a “Wings and Wheels” event – people fly in to appreciate a car show, with vendors and displays set up on the airfield. According to Buchna, this past summer was the biggest Wings and Wheels ever. Also, every year for Applefest the airport operates as a central hub for people to fly in for the festival and then take provided shuttle transportation to the attractions. It is a huge event and draws a large crowd of enthusiasts. When asked about the economic benefits the airport provides to both Venango County and the City of Franklin, Buchna points to a close working relationship with the County Commissioners and a desire to recognize the airport for what it is – an economic engine that drives tourism, as well as business growth in the area. “The Commissioners have always been very supportive of Venango Regional,” Buchna explains, “and it is always at the forefront of our minds how to best utilize it. We’ve got some undeveloped land up here at the airport and we’ve been trying to find a use for it that would support a business that wanted to be close to the airport. It would be great to bring in some sort of cargo operation, and the commissioners have always been very open to the possibilities.” Another organization that Venango Regional works very closely with – supporting the regional economy as well as tourism – is the Oil Region Alliance. The region is a National Historical Area, and the Alliance works hand in hand with the airport to support activities and