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$8 million grant will fund rehab of runway at OAJ

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs
Published September 13, 2022 at 1:15 PM EDT
OAJ.jpg
Albert J. Ellis Airport in Onslow County (Photo credit: Albert J. Ellis Airport)

An $8 million grant will help an eastern North Carolina airport rehab its runway.

Albert J. Ellis Airport director Chris White said they’ll use the $8.4 million to resurface the runway, beginning next spring, and it’s normal to have to rehab the pavement every 10 to 12 years.

The funding is on top of $2.4 million the state legislature set aside in the budget for future hangar development, updated navigational aids, new and upgraded facilities, and more.

Last year, the State approved $29 million to lengthen the runway at OAJ, allowing for larger aircraft and longer flights.

According to a 2021 study commissioned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Albert J. Ellis Airport supports more than 3,400 jobs that create an economic impact of $565 million each year and generate about $20 million annually in local and state taxes.

Annette Weston-Riggs
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. She has been involved in the media industry in eastern North Carolina for more than three years. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to ENC to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of toddler and baby cuddling, reading, designing costumes for children’s theater and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston-Riggs