The Charleston Area Alliance is partnering with Yeager Airport (CRW) and the Kanawha County Commission to study the airport, its private facility operations and the nearby West Virginia National Guard Base’s economic impact on our region and for West Virginia.
Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) has been tapped to conduct the study. The Charleston Area Alliance Board of Directors voted to fund the $30,000 study at its June 28th Board Meeting.
“The results of this study will be utilized by all partners to gauge the current economic impact of the totality of operations at and around Yeager Airport,” Charleston Area Alliance President/CEO Matthew Ballard said.“This data will allow us to assess the economic landscape compared to the study completed in 2005 on the National Guard Base in reaction to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s (BRAC) study. Airport services, especially direct flight offerings, have a tremendous impact on regional economics. The partners of this project will use this research and data to further our economic development efforts.”
The study will be conducted in a multi-phased approach that evaluates the economic and fiscal impacts and services provided by airport’s vendors and carriers.
“While the Charleston Area Alliance is a non-profit with a limited budget, an investment that can help grow one of our most important regional assets is an important investment for us to make,” Charleston Area Alliance Chair Michael Basile said.
The study began July 1, 2016.
“We can never take this important asset for granted,” said Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy who also serves on the Alliance Board of Directors as a representative of the County Commission. “This is a collaborative effort that is moving forward and I appreciate our Alliance for its leadership on this project.”
