Brownwood City Council authorized $40,000 to be spent on renovation to the hanger office space at Brownwood Regional Airport on Tuesday morning.

According to City Manager Emily Crawford, these funds will be used to “build out office space, a training/conference room and a pilot’s room/lounge.”

Crawford explained that during the 2014/2015 fiscal year, the City of Brownwood received a grant for a TxDOT Airport Business Plan, which was completed in October of 2015.  The purpose for this plan was to determine how the airport could generate additional airport activity and revenue.  The plan recommended a section of the Main Hangar for the following uses:

• Office space for aviation related businesses to lease
• Conference/Training Room for business meetings and pilot trainings/events
• 24-hour access to pilot rest area/lounge

The city had budgeted $40,000 in the current year for this project.  Once the demo was complete, it was discovered that the electric upgrades would be more extensive than originally thought, according to Crawford.  The project will not be completed with the funds that were budgeted and another $28,000 is materials is needed to finish the project.

The painting of the historic jets at the airport was budgeted for $45,000 and will only cost $2,800 due to volunteers from the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum and Dyess Air Force Base providing the labor and expertise for the job.  Crawford asked the council to approve up to $40,000 from the budgeted for the painting of these jets to be used to complete the remodel of the hangar.  Both projects are budgeted under the “Capital Improvements” in the Airport budget and will require a budget amendment be presented to the council at the end of the fiscal year.