Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined federal, state and local officials Wednesday to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the state’s newest airport, the Gallatin County regional Airport in Sparta.
The state’s 58th general aviation airport, Gallatin Regional closes a logistical gap for aircraft users in the area, officials said, while boosting economic development, emergency services and tourism.
“This is an amazing milestone for Gallatin County and Northern Kentucky, more than 20 years in the making. Today, we showed everyone that when we work together as Team Kentucky, we get big things done,” Beshear said. “This airport is going to support our booming economy, promote tourism in this region and provide a new site for emergency responders.”
The airport is the first general aviation airport to serve the I-71 corridor between Louisville and Cincinnati, officials said. The $44 million non-commercial airport features a 5,000-foot by 75-foot concrete runway with a full parallel taxiway and apron. The project was paid for with $18 million in state funding, $25.5 million in federal funding and $55,500 in local funding.
“Today’s opening of the Gallatin County Regional Airport represents the culmination of nearly two decades of work from Gallatin County leaders, consultants, contractors and the Kentucky Department of Aviation,” Mark Carter, commissioner with the Department of Aviation, said of the project that had been in the works for more than 20 years. “We are thrilled to be a part of this historic effort to see the project through to the finish line.”
The airport’s location near the Kentucky Speedway and Nucor Steel Gallatin will provide both entities with more convenient aviation access, officials said, boosting tourism and economic development in the area.