The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport received $20 million in state funds from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to develop Hangar Row — a dedicated area of the airport tailored to maintaining and upgrading aircraft.
Hangar Row is set to be developed on approximately 350 acres southwest of the airport’s campus. Multiple new hangars to store and repair aircraft will be built, effectively expanding the airport’s capacity to handle and house more planes. Several avionics-related businesses will also be recruited to the site, acting as a “one-stop shop” for aircraft maintenance.
The $20 million was appropriated during the last session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The funds will be used to prepare the site for development.
On Wednesday, outgoing CVG CEO Candace McGraw gathered alongside state Senators John Schickel, Gex Williams and Chris McDaniel, Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore and Kenton County Commissioner Beth Sewell to officially announce the $20 million allocation.
“It’s a long-term vision for about 350 acres we have that are currently undeveloped,” McGraw said. “When you look at a site and you see a green field, we can envision great buildings there to help support the airport and the ecosystem for the airport.”
McGraw said she sees Hangar Row as a future economic driver for the airport, especially regarding job growth and tax generation. Still, the project has a long way to go. McGraw said she expects shovels in the ground a year to 18 months from now.
“We know roadway infrastructure is necessary,” she said. “We know utility infrastructure is necessary. With this $20 million allocation from the state, this project is now real.”
Moore said the land has been owned by CVG for many years, taking it off the table for prospective private developers.
“When we can use properties such as this – that’s already off the tax rolls from other perspectives, but also out of play for development with the private sector. These kinds of projects are a home run. It’s a win-win.”
In July, the Boone County Fiscal Court approved a resolution providing approximately $2 million worth of funding for the project. The funding will be used to upgrade infrastructure around the site.
McDaniel, the chair of the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee, touted the behind-the-scenes efforts of Schickel and McGraw. Additionally, he called project a “smart investment” for the region’s economic future.
“This project is a next logical extension of the great work that they’ve been doing here,” he said.
Currently, CVG is in the process of conducting an environmental study, McGraw said. The study assesses the project’s potential impact on local wetlands and endangered species. It is expected to take around 18 months to complete.
