The Pocahontas Municipal Airport is moving forward with a $275,000 improvement project designed to enhance safety and accessibility for pilots, according to airport officials. The upgrades, currently underway, are being funded primarily through grants and will not involve local taxpayer funds.
Phase one of the project, which included resurfacing and shoring up the taxiways, has been completed, said airport manager Chris Wheeler. He emphasized that the improvements are intended to create a safer experience for pilots and to make the airport more welcoming to visitors.
“The visitors that do come, the planes that can get in here, we’re going to cater to those people,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to make sure that they have the absolute best experience when they come to our airport.”
Future plans include expanding the airport’s current 4,000-foot runway to allow for larger jets. In the meantime, two additional phases are scheduled to bring upgrades to the facility’s wind cones and runway lighting. According to Wheeler, the entire project is projected to wrap up by March.
Approximately 90% of the funding comes from federal grants, including funds from the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport is responsible for covering the remaining 10%. However, Wheeler clarified that this portion is reimbursed through a match grant from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, resulting in no cost to local taxpayers.
“We apply for the 10% cost out of our pocket back for, they call it a match grant,” Wheeler explained. “So it ends up costing the airport and the taxpayers of Pocahontas absolutely zero.”
The funding is part of the Arkansas Capital Improvement Plan, which schedules public infrastructure projects like this well in advance. The upgrades are expected to improve the airport’s functionality and position it as a valuable asset for the region.