ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 5, 1996 TAG: 9609050073
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
Airports at Blacksburg and Martinsville were among the beneficiaries when the Virginia Aviation Board dispensed more than $9.45 million for airport improvements at its annual meeting in Roanoke last month.
In all, 30 of Virginia's 68 public-use airports received the funding, which will match more than $4.1 million in local money.
The board also gave out more than $190,000 in special funds for airport promotion and more than $80,000 for air-service development.
The Blue Ridge Airport at Martinsville received $515,520 for site preparation for a new hangar. The board gave the Virginia Tech Airport at Blacksburg $225,000 to construct a parallel taxiway.
Roanoke Regional Airport received $25,000 for airport promotion and another $8,450 in special funds for air-service enhancement.
For many years, the state has offered a grant program for advertising and other promotional activities. The amount varies by the size of the airports, and airports are required to match the grant dollar for dollar.
Mark Courtney, a spokesman for the airport, said $22,000 will be used to publish its flight guide, which appears six times a year, and the rest will cover some of the airport's advertising budget.
The air-service enhancement money will help the airport attract new air service, Courtney said. The money will be used for such things as travel agent and passenger surveys, analysis of specific travel routes, and being host to visiting airline officials, Courtney said.
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