MONTGOMERY — Economic growth, including jobs, will soon be taking off in Guntersville and Cullman thanks to grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.
Ivey said two grants totaling $2 million will help support Guntersville and Cullman in advancing aviation-related jobs and career opportunities.
Guntersville received a $1 million grant from the ARC to expand hanger space at its airport, allowing for the basing of 75 Apache helicopters and creating 100 jobs.
The city of Cullman received a $1 million ARC grant to fund the construction of a hanger and classroom facility at Cullman Regional Airport, supporting Wallace State Community College’s expansion of its aviation and flight technology program.
“Alabama’s footprint in the aerospace and aviation industries continues to grow,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to support these new projects in Cullman and Guntersville and the potential they hold not only for these two cities but also the broader north Alabama region.”
Guntersville will use funds to construct a 40,000-square-foot hangar at Guntersville Municipal Airport where ACE Aero, already an airport tenant, will provide maintenance on the helicopters.
As the city of Huntsville continues to expand its aerospace and military industrial base, other north Alabama cities such as Guntersville are enhancing their own airports to attract aviation businesses.
Cullman plans to construct a 10,000-square-foot hangar and a 1,600-square-foot classroom at its airport to support Wallace State Community College’s aviation/flight technology program. The college in nearby Hanceville created the program to meet the increasing demand for commercial pilots and certified aviation maintenance technicians.
In addition to Cullman and Wallace State, the project is a collaboration involving Cullman County, the Cullman Economic Development Agency and Martin Aviation.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission has over the past 50 years supported initiatives that create jobs and equip students for careers in high-demand, high-paying jobs,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in support of these projects.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Marshall and Cullman counties are among 37 Alabama counties in the ARC region and eligible for funds.
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