A new initiative that will improve rural airports across Georgia, including some in House District 116 and possibly the Washington-Wilkes County airport, has gained the support of State Representative Mickey Channell. The initiative, called AirGeorgia, is part of the One Georgia Authority.

The OneGeorgia program uses money obtained in the state's tobacco settlement to spur economic development in rural parts of Georgia. AirGeorgia - the Airport Initiative in Rural Georgia - is a part of that program and will provide grants for infrastructure improvements, runway extensions, installation of navigational aids, and a variety of other aviation equipment.

"Airports provide another means of access for entrepreneurs and tourists alike, and improving existing facilities should be highly beneficial for the area's economic development efforts," stated Representative Channell. "AirGeorgia will allow

rural airports to drastically improve their facilities without placing any additional financial burden on local residents, and it is my hope that airports in this district take full advantage of the new initiative," Channell said.

The Washington-Wilkes County Airport is among those airports eligible to apply for these funds, and an initial $15 million budget was approved by the OneGeorgia Authority Board in July. More information on the program, including application materials, can be found at www.onegeorgia.org/AirGeorgia/ , or may be obtained by calling 404651-9221.

Representative Mickey Channell represents District 116 in the Georgia General Assembly which includes all or parts of Wilkes, Greene, Oglethorpe, and Putnam Counties. He may be reached at email@mickeychannell.org or by phone at 706-453-1230.