When opportunity came knocking, Allen County was ready.
For almost two years, county leaders had been laying the groundwork to provide infrastructure needs at the airport — roads, water, electricity, natural gas and broadband internet.
A state grant of nearly $3 million, along with a 25% match from the county, will help turn those plans into reality.
It also will help the county attract new developments at the airport and new industries on the surrounding land.
When those opportunities come knocking, the airport will be ready.
ALLEN COUNTY was awarded $2,905,095 from the Kansas Department of Commerce as part of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) program.
Earlier this week, Gov. Laura Kelly announced $100 million would go to 35 infrastructure and economic development projects across the state. The money is part of the state’s COVID-19 relief funds.
The grants require a 25% match, which means the county will contribute $726,000.
The airport project must be completed within two years. Half of the money is to be awarded in 2022, the other half in 2023.
Competition for the grant was intense, said Jonathon Goering, economic development director with Thrive Allen County.
The Department of Commerce received 446 applications, asking for a total of $1.8 billion.
“We knew going in, it was going to be tough and it would be a long shot,” Goering said.
That long shot paid off.
“One of the key factors for us was being ready to move,” he said.
“We had a utility expansion study just completed, so we could go to the state and say, ‘Here’s our plan. Here are our numbers.’”
IN THE FALL of 2020, Thrive Allen County and county commissioners learned the possibility of a massive federal infrastructure bill could trickle down to the local level.
“It was at that time we decided to be ready for those dollars if they became available,” Goering said.
