Schuylkill County (Joe Zerbey) Airport (KZER), Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Construction on new hangar may begin this year

MOUNT PLEASANT - Construction on a new hangar at Schuylkill County's Joe Zerbey Airport may begin as early as this year.

Bill Willard, airport manager, said Monday the county airport authority is already seeking bids, which are due on Aug. 15. The project will be awarded by Aug. 31.

Depending on weather, Willard said, the project may break ground by the end of the year. If not, the project will be started within the first couple months of 2014, Willard said.

"I can make a list a mile long why we need this hangar," Willard said Monday.

The proposed hangar will be the largest one at the airport at 96 feet by 83 feet and 28 feet high.

Willard said all the hangars at the airport are full and the new addition will also be able to house corporate-sized planes.

"When you look at a hangar like this, you are looking to entice businesses to keep their aircrafts here, have longer leases, buy more fuel and also bring business into the county," Willard said.

The total cost of the hangar is estimated at $800,000. The airport received $400,000 in state grants over the past two years for the project. The remaining cost will come from the airport's match on the grants.

Gov. Tom Corbett awarded the first grant, $300,000, in February 2012. An additional grant, $100,000, was awarded this past February.

The grants were approved Thursday by the state Transportation Commission. The 15-member commission includes the Transportation secretary, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation committees.

Funds are distributed through the Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program, which is funded through state capital bond dollars in the General Fund budget. Authorized by the General Assembly, the grants are administered by the state Department of Transportation's Bureau of Aviation.

Source:  http://republicanherald.com