Airport receives $500,000 grant

 Upper Cumberland Regional Airport recently received a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to support continuing growth.

The ARC grant, which requires a matching local share of equal value, is a facility grant to be used for the building of additional T-hangars, the most common type of storage for private aircraft whose wingspan is typically 40 feet or less.

“The grant is much appreciated and is a good step in alleviating the backlog of the hangar wait list,” UCRA manager Dean Selby said. “We are excited to begin the engineering process and move forward with the project.”

According to Selby, the matching funds will come in the form of a loan through the USDA, meaning that the four entities that share ownership of the airport - White County, Putnam County, Cookeville, and Sparta - will not be asked to provide additional funding beyond what each entity has already budgeted for the 2022/2023 fiscal year.

“Proceeds from hangar rent will be used to repay the loan and pay other operational expenses,” he explained, saying that the airport should be self-sufficient in fully funding the repayment of the loan.