VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- The director of aviation at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport characterizes a show cause order issued against Aerodynamic Inc. as a “speed bump” in the process of the carrier eventually offering flights at the airport.
One of the speakers at the Good Morning, Vienna and Fowler breakfast presented by the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Dan Dickten, responded to the order issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Transportation (READ STORY).
Dickten manages the regional airport for the Western Reserve Port Authority, which operates the airport. He says the order is a “bit of a speed bump” in the process and that the authority hopes “to get through that and continue with Aerodynamic.”
“In the event this is approved, and we hope it will be, from the announcement date it will take between 45 and 60 days to actually start service. We have to get out and prebook, advertise and things like that,” Dickten says. “We will continue to pursue this initiative.”
The airport received a Small Community Air Service Development grant totaling $1.2 million to attract an airline to provide daily service, $780,000 from the Department of Transportation and a $420,000 local match, Dickten said.
The grant will be a revenue guarantee for airlines while they establish service at the airport. The guarantees are usually paid for a period of six to 12 months.
“These airlines are not coming to our airport or any airport without some kind of revenue guarantee subsidy,” he explains.
In 2014, the regional airport serviced 129,000 passengers, a 38% increase from a year before, he reports. The airport is slowly establishing use within its catchment area, which encompasses a roughly 30-mile radius around the airport.
“Since we don't have daily service, a lot of [our catchment area] leaks to other airports, primarily Pittsburgh, which gets about 60%. The rest go to Cleveland, 19%, and Akron/Canton, about 10%,” Dickten says. “We have carved out about 9% or 10% of our catchment area as our own users. We've been very happy with that over the past few years.”
The port authority also is looking at expanding the number of business and leisure destinations. Business destinations include Chicago, Washington, D.C., Detroit and New York, while leisure stop expansion plans include New York, Fort Lauderdale and Myrtle Beach.
“We haven't hit the big one yet -- a flight to Las Vegas -- but we're hoping to have that within the next year or two,” he adds.
Also speaking at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber event was Matthews Local School District Superintendent Lew Lowery, who detailed student's successes over the past year, including over $600,000 in scholarships earned by the 2013 graduating class.
“On the new report card system that went into effect this year, we have earned a B grade. Our district performance index is consistently scored 100 or better,” Lowery says. “That index, in my opinion, is the greatest indicator of how well a school district is performing. The maximum you can get is 120 and anything 100 or better is pretty darn good.”
Students are also offered the opportunity to take college courses at Kent State University and Youngstown State University or take two classes for college credit at the high school. Only biology and calculus are offered right now, but a language arts class will be added next school year.
“A student has the possibility, by the time they graduate high school, to be a college sophomore, at no cost to their parents,” he says. “Next year, that whole package will go into something called College Credit Plus and will continue at no cost to parents.”
The school board also purchased 128 acres of land at the site of the former Prestwick Golf Course. While funding for putting a building on the property is an issue, Lowery says he is “almost certain” that if anything is built, it will be a K-12 building, consolidating the district's three buildings into one.
“It would include our athletics and everything else. We have the area for land labs for classes, there's a small lake that could be incorporated, there's wooded areas that would be available use,” he continues. “It's an outstanding investment for the students.”
Vienna Township Trustee Heidi Brown gave an update on the work completed by the township in the past year, including the renovation of a building next to the town hall for use as a police station and the renovation of the township fire station. The fire department also replaced one of its emergency medical services vehicles and purchased a new fire truck.
In 2013, the Vienna Township fire department responded to a record 752 calls. The number of calls from 2014 wasn't available yet, she says.
In Fowler Township, a $29,000 grant has helped the roads department keep roads clear recently, Trustee Jeff Davis says.
“I drive two work every morning through Vienna and Liberty and Fowler and [our] township roads are always cleared first,” he says. “That sits well with me. Our guys do a great job.”
An arrangement with Cortland EMS was established last year, easing strain on the township services.
“If we have a shortfall in the middle of the night, Cortland is glad to come over and help us out. We're fortunate to have them as a big brother, not only for EMS but also for training, protocols and supply purchases,” Davis explains.
Fowler also receives help from Vienna and Youngstown Air Reserve Station, he added.
The next Good Morning event is scheduled for Feb. 20 in Austintown.
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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