City of Okemah

PROJECT PURPOSE

This project is to build an eight to ten Airplane T Hangar and also a 60 x 60 Box Hangar which will hold approximately another two to four "Tails" or Airplanes. Currently the FAA has a requirement on Municipal Airports to have at least 10 Airplanes to call the local Airport home. This project will allow Okemah to get back into the annual funding rounds with the FAA for additional improvements and maintenance on the airport. The City of Okemah has been working on installing an 8 inch water line from the last water main on the southern edge of Okemah to the helipad located at the northern area of the Airport property. This 8 inch line will allow us to have further development in this area as well as fire protection for the future. Our tenants will have water available for their businesses as well as the maintenance for the airplanes themselves. We are planning to have restroom facilities on location. The Hangars will provide another level of action on our economic development progress. Not only will the crop dusters in the area have a place to call home other developers interested in locating right on I 40 will have the ability to fly in and out at their convenience. Possibly staying overnight and having a meal or two. We have also been talking to our local Technical Schools to add to their curriculum some of the Airport Maintenance class sessions to further the growth of our younger generation. The addition of these hangars will also give the Pilot Training classes at the High Scholl level new legs which hopefully could be included in class schedules for our Juniors and Seniors at Okemah High. The opportunities that this project will bring to Okemah and the surrounding communities will be endless. Additional revenues to the City should not be discounted. Water and rental revenues will increase. In addition, we plan to add a fuel pod to provide refueling for the pilots. This will increase our visibility even more with Oklahoma Aeronautics and the maps their provide the area pilots. Not only will we be offering the hangar space we will also have fuel.

EVIDENCE

Okemah's Airport currently just has an asphalt runway and 4 tie down areas for our local planes. We have so many pilots contact us asking about when the addition of hangar space is coming to this area. Currently the Municipal Airports that are near to us do not have space available because their hangars are full. We know just through speaking with the surrounding areas that have no available space that we will be full in less than 6 - 12 months. We also have a tremendous need with our local crop duster pilots. They need shelter for their planes and equipment and a location to refill their chemicals.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Our community in Okemah located in Okfuskee County is a very poor area. According to Indian Health Services we are approximately 46% Native American in population. The opportunity to provide additional learning of technical skills alone makes this a perfect project for this area. Okemah must improve on their economic development tools in order to give our citizens as much opportunity as we can to learn new skills and earn a decent living. These hangars will create jobs and allow our local businesses the opportunity to be seen by independent developers who want to be located in prime Interstate 40 territory. This project is an excellent source for additional revenues to the city so that we can continue to improve our infrastructure. As I have stated previously the education enhancements this project will bring to our area High Schoolers as well as those wanting to further their technical skills will be the best opportunities for this area. Anything we can do to provide areas for learning and working to earn an honest living is something we as a community and State of Oklahoma should invest in.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The ability to see the project performance will be an easy task. You will see activity at the Airport and the Hangars will all be full in approximately 12 months if it even takes that long. The most exciting aspect will be seeing the addition of Airport Maintenance facilities and other industries associated with needing to be in close proximity to a Municipal Airport that is established with Hangars.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding