From the Sept. 2 issue of the Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch News
By Vicki Shealy
vsflash@aol.com
Cities, counties and business leaders are coming together to improve air service in the Midlands.
The effort to increase seat capacity and lower airfares will benefit more than air travelers.
It has fostered a sense of regional cooperation between Richland and Lexington county elected and business leaders.
All came together in August to help the Columbia Metropolitan Airport collect enough matching dollars to apply for a federal small aviation grant.
“If we are successful with the grant, it will help us be more competitive,” airport executive director Dan Mann said.
And the effort was accomplished in record time, according to area leaders.
During a three-week time span, more than $75,000 was collected for the $750,000 grant application. About half was contributed by business leaders and half by local governments. The effort was spearheaded by Lexington Chamber of Commerce President Randy Halfacre and Ike McLeese, president and CEO of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
The two chambers of commerce came up with the plan to ask local leaders to contribute, Mann said.
“This has been a good example of how working together can make a difference,” he said.
Lexington County, Cayce, West Columbia, Lexington and Springdale were solicited for contributions totaling more than $20,000.
The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce contributed $5,000.
“The money will only be used if the airport receives the grant, Mayor Randy Halfacre said. Halfacre said he hopes this successful effort will bring more cooperation in other areas too. “We are in a unique position to be able to bring business and community leaders together in a way that will benefit both groups,” he said.
Halfacre said chamber officials hope the cooperation will extend to other projects. Notice of grant awards is expected by November. This is the first time the Columbia airport has applied for one of the small aviation grants.
