Morehead-Rowan County Airport Board

Morehead-Rowan County Clyde A Thomas Regional Airport is once again the recipient of a state grant for a
significant airport improvement project. On August 21, Governor Andy Beshear announced a $648,184 grant to
the community to complete the funding for the construction of a 302 foot x 186 foot (56,172 SF) concrete apron
for the future construction of up to six (6) large corporate box hangars. The state funding is in addition to federal
grants of $1,272,936 and local funding of $650,637, or a total project cost of $2,571,757 inclusive of engineering,
design an construction. The corporate apron project is the largest capital project undertaken by the Airport
Board since the initial construction of the airport and its opening in 2007.

The Airport’s initial Business Plan received in 2007 focused the Airport Board on multiple growth strategies. The
Airports Long Range Land Plan adopted also in 2007 designated the future site for the construction of the
corporate hangar apron. More recently, in November 2021 the Airport Board received an updated Strategic Plan.
The Board had earlier commissioned Garver Engineering, the Airport’s engineer of record, to undertake and
update the Board’s strategic plan. Corporate hangar partnerships once again were a recommended strategy. “The
1.3 acre corporate apron/pad will allow our airport and community to be responsive to the corporate needs of our
current and future economic partners,” according to Dr. Bruce Mattingly, Chair of the Morehead-Rowan County
Airport Board.

Mattingly added “While the Federal and State grants are obviously critical to our being able to undertake projects
of this nature, the past and on-going support of the county and city is equally important. The annual support the
Airport Board receives from our sponsors enables us to meet mandated grant matching requirements of the
Federal Aviation Administration in addition to allowing us to maintain our facilities and meet operational
demands. Our Board knows we can count on this support. Additionally, because of the long-term economic
impact that this project will have in the community we also received grant assistance from the Morehead-Rowan
County Tourism Commission and the Morehead-Rowan County Industrial Development Authority. The contributions from
Tourism and IDA insured the FAA and the Kentucky Department of Aviation of our
community’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s economic future.

Shamrock Concrete, Louisville, KY was low bidder and began construction of the new apron August 14. The
estimated completion date is November 14. Garver Aviation designed the project.