Mary Jo Bohart, economic development director, Fitchburg
October 26, 2015
Viewpoint
Fitchburg's $4.6M airport upgrade to entice business interest
By Mary Jo Bohart, Special To The Worcester Business Journal
Economic development assets, whether for a community or for a region, often involve unique attributes that foster commercial growth and strengthen the desirability of a location. With this in mind, having a range of transportation options continues to be vital for an area's overall appeal. It is with this framework that the current improvements underway at Fitchburg Municipal Airport are timely and will bring the facility's administration terminal up to modern standards, thus keeping the airport a competitive option for general aviation customers within north Central Massachusetts.
Situated on approximately 335 acres along the Nashua River in southeastern Fitchburg, the airport has direct proximity to Route 2 and is just a short ride from Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. It is classified as a General Aviation, General Utility Stage II airport by the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), meaning that it serves all small planes and can accommodate some larger aircraft with wingspans of less than 79 feet. The airport is home to a variety of businesses offering aviation services such as flight training, scenic flights, charter flights, aircraft maintenance and a popular airport restaurant.
That said, some in the business community still may not fully appreciate the value of having a public-access airport nearby because many area residents visit the airport primarily during special festival events or to enjoy a meal at the popular restaurant. However, according to airport management, the commercial activity associated with Fitchburg Airport results in a $14 million positive economic impact for the tri-town area (Fitchburg, Leominster & Lunenburg) annually. Although a municipal airport, the Fitchburg Airport operates essentially as a separate business in that it is self-supporting and does not rely on funds from the city of Fitchburg.
Of the 39 public-access airport listed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, 15 are in need of new terminal buildings. Fitchburg Airport is fortunate to be among the first grouping of airport locations undergoing this type of physical upgrade. The new terminal, officially referred to as an administration building, had an official groundbreaking In early October. The building will include expanded space for the airport restaurant, a pilot's lounge and staff offices. In addition, the new facility will connect to municipal sewers thus eliminating the current septic system. The $4.6-million project is being funded through grants from both MassDOT and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The Fitchburg Airport Commission has plans to rebuild and lengthen the primary runway to offer more flexibility for aircraft such as corporate jets.
Given that north central communities such as Fitchburg, Leominster and the Devens area are actively engaged in economic development efforts to expand current businesses, attract new commercial ventures, strengthen local tax bases and increase jobs, now is an ideal time to acknowledge the benefit of having an up-to-date general aviation airport with modern facilities to serve the region for decades to come.
Mary Jo Bohart is the economic development director for the City of Fitchburg.
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