Officials at Atlanta Speedway Airport are moving forward with plans to seek $10 million in state funding for land acquisition and hangar development, now that the Henry County Board of Commissioners has given the go-ahead.

The board voted at its October 4 regular meeting to authorize a funding request to the Georgia General Assembly on behalf of the county-owned facility. According to county officials, the money would fund 40 new hangers with any prospective grant processed through a 75-25 state-local match.

Airport manager Lynn Planchon said the new hangars are needed to attract and keep aircraft owners.

“Most people that own an airplane at the very least want a hangar with a roof and a door. Right now we have just four hangars with doors,” she said. “We get crazy weather. We want [aircraft owners] to stay here. We want them to spend their money here and pay taxes here.”

If the state approves the funding request, it would lead to the next wave in what has been a number of major improvements of late.

The new fixed base operation terminal building opened last December, following an expansion of the apron (the large area where planes park) that was completed in February of 2021.

Work is also about 80 percent complete on large-scale improvements to the taxiways, lighting and signage that officials say will make it far safer for larger aircraft to maneuver.

“Up until last December, we were housed in a metal building from the 1950s where the air would blow in hot and cold and the building would shake,” said Planchon. “Today, we have 4,500 square feet of beautiful space complete with a conference room, pilot’s lounge, and much more.”

Atlanta Speedway Airport is also now home to a helicopter flight school, with hopes of adding an airplane flight school in the future. The site is commonly used for television and movie filming, which brings in additional revenue.

County officials see these developments as sound financial improvements that benefit taxpayers, not just physical improvements, Planchon noted.

“With the new hangars, we would get new lease revenue, fuel revenue and perhaps most importantly, tax revenue,” she said.