The Stanly County Airport Authority Board had a special guest at its meeting Tuesday at the airport.

North Carolina Rep. Wayne Sasser (R-67th) presented a ceremonial check to the board for $6.6 million from the General Assembly.

The money has been earmarked to build access from the Alpha taxiway to a new site near the midfield of the airport where a new hangar development will be built.

According to board chair Mike Harwood, the airport has “multiple interests in building both corporate and private hangars on this site as our current hangars are full with a lengthy waiting list. This development will both bring new revenues to the airport in fuel sales and rental income from the leased property as well as tax revenue dollars to the county as aircraft are taxed as assets while based at our airport.”

“The Airport Authority Board cannot thank Representative Sasser and his staff enough for their support and hard work in securing these funds,” Harwood added.

He said Stanly County Airport “is a vital economic engine and the addition of a new hangar development area will result in new revenues for the county and the airport. If all our elected officials continue to work as tirelessly for Stanly County as Wayne and his staff, we will be much better off in the future.”