Cobb County formally opened its new row of corporate hangars at the county's McCollum Field airport on Friday.
The $7 million project, which will have space to house about 25 midsize corporate jets, is being touted as an economic development boost for the county. Cobb leases the hangar space to Atlanta Executive Jet Center, which funded and built the new hangars. They were needed because existing hangars had reached capacity.
A state economic impact study found that McCollum Field contributes about $112 million annually to the community, with roughly 840 airport-dependent jobs, including 200 direct airport employees. The new hangars are expected to bring more private business and associated spending to the airport.
McCollum Field currently operates without county general funds, receiving its funding from fees charged to private companies located at the facility, said airport manager Karl Von Hagel.
Cobb did include two airport improvements on the project list for the July 31 regional transportation referendum: a $2.5 million new air traffic control tower, and $689,000 for a runway approach lighting system. Unlike with the privately leased hangars, if the referendum fails, the county would have to find other funds for the airport improvements.
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