Shoals Economic Development Authority finishes hangar at airport

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (WAFF) - Officials in Muscle Shoals finished a two-year project of creating a hangar at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport.

Officials with the Shoals Economic Development Authority say this new aviation building will attract several businesses to the area and put the Shoals on the map for aviation.

It is a spec building, meaning it was built by the authority and is move-in ready for any company.

The regional airport brings around $22 million of economic impact to the area and provides around 180 jobs.

Officials said they hope this new building will be an addition to that impact.

“We see what’s going on in other communities like ours,” Shoals EDA Board Member Macke Mauldin said. “And the relationship to Huntsville and the aviation market there. We could really benefit from some of those jobs being here. Not to take away from them. To augment what they’re doing already. It is truly an exciting opportunity for the shoals area.”

Officials say the building can be leased or bought by any business that comes forward to claim it. They say around 14,000 people traveled through the terminal at the airport in the last year. That signifies growth.

“With the aviation industry expanding especially in the state of Alabama and what’s happening in other states,” Director of Alabama Economic and Community Affairs Kenneth Boswell said. “From the standpoint of aviation and the cost of labor, I think this has well positioned the Shoals to be able to bring those jobs in to this area.”

The airport was out of hangar space on the north side as well.

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