ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Thousands of dollars will soon be going toward researching ways to improve aviation in Western North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Transporation (NCDOT) announced in a press release on Monday that the state had received a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) grant. North Carolina was among three states that received the ARISE grant, which is funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“This grant is a game-changer for our state and the broader Appalachian region,” said Dr. Daniel Findley, associate director of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at N.C. State University, in a press release. “The funding will enable us to conduct crucial research and determine the best strategies to advance air mobility, ensuring North Carolina airports can meet the demands of the future.”
Grant money will go toward funding research that will help identify what upgrades are necessary at 13 general aviation airports in North Carolina’s Appalachian counties. A general aviation airport is a “public-use airport that does not have scheduled service or has scheduled service with less than 2,500 passenger boardings each year,” according to the FAA.
According to North Carolina’s 2023 State of Aviation Report, general aviation airports make up about 28,385 jobs in the state, with a combined economic output of $6,184,830,000.
NCDOT said in its release that outdated infrastructure at these airports has limited their potential. These upgrades will aim to prepare these airports for “merging technologies in the Advanced Air Mobility sector (AAM) and sustainable electric aviation,” the release said.
North Carolina State University’s Institute of Transportation Research and Education and Ohio University will be assessing infrastructure needs at the airports, including upgrading electric utility capacity and installing charging capabilities required to support AAM aircraft.
“Preparing our airports for AAM is a forward-thinking approach that aligns with our state’s Advanced Transportation Mobility Strategic Plan,” said Becca Gallas, NCDOT’s director of Aviation, in Monday’s release. “This project exemplifies our commitment to innovation, economic development and sustainable infrastructure. Through this research, we will develop models and strategies that can be applied across the region, ensuring that North Carolina remains at the forefront of aviation innovation.”
The grant will help amplify North Carolina’s airports, which contribute $72 billion to the state’s economy each year and support 330,000 jobs, NCDOT said.