Oklahoma State Senator Jay Paul Gumm writes a regular column and chose to talk about rural competitiveness and infrastructure recently. Infrastructure can mean lots of things. Gumm talks specifically about rural airports.
These airports are critical gateways to mid-size communities. They are where CEOs land to look for business relocation or expansion sites. The airports are business centers for entrepreneurs who provide services to the aviation industry….
A small airplane manufacturer has relocated its production and office operations from San Diego, Calif., to the Blackwell-Tonkawa Regional Airport. This one relocation will generate 40 jobs and millions of dollars of economic impact.
Alva benefited from the development of Vantage Plane Plastics (airplane interior parts manufacturer) out of a locally-grown business, through its acquisition by a California company, and its recent expansions.
Your own business may rely on the local airport more than you think.
Our local bank had to call for service of a specialized piece of equipment. The service people came in a small jet, actually a bit too big for Alva’s airport. They had to land an hour away and drive in.
The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Jari Askins will go anywhere for any event (almost). But you have to have an airport of a certain minimum size for her plane to land. So if want her to come celebrate your major expansion, be sure you’ve supported your local airport.
Cafe Bahnhof in Waynoka, Oklahoma, receives visitors each week who have flown in, rather than driven, just to enjoy Dieter Dorner’s hospitality and Bavarian style food. He even lists fly-in information on his website. You can bet he supports his local airport.
How about you? Do you rely on your local airport? How are you supporting it?
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Move Your Money and Bank Local - March 22, 2023
- Using a building as a warehouse or storage in a small town? Put up a sign - March 13, 2023
- How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores - February 19, 2023
- Check your small business website for outdated pandemic changes, missing info - January 31, 2023
- Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors - January 15, 2023
- 2023 trends for rural and small town businesses - December 26, 2022
- Local reviews on Google Maps drive enduring value - December 17, 2022
- Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp - December 12, 2022
- Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers Welcome - December 2, 2022
- Holiday 2022 marketing: Tell your founding story - December 1, 2022
I donated a road-grader to help keep the runways clear of snow.
KUDOS to maesz for doing to road work! I commend you! There are too many small towns that cannot afford or even need an airport. Although,it would be nice! But, those travelling to small rural towns just know that they have to drive 50 or 70 or 80 miles from the airport to get to their destination. I doubt that the infrastructure of adding airport services is going to enhance small towns.