Gabe Stark
Reporter

The opening of Trenton Municipal Airport’s new six-unit hangar, a project more than five years in the making, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, April 21.

The addition is expected to strengthen the airport’s long-term future by expanding space for aircraft, increasing revenue potential; and helping the city maintain eligibility for federal aviation funding.

Airport Manager Wes Barone said the project’s importance goes beyond simply adding more hangar space.

“We have to have 10 based aircraft,” Barone said. “If we lose our 10 based aircraft, we lose a lot of our federal funding funding.”

Each hanger space will be rented out for $225 a month and the six units are expected to generate about $16,000 annually if fully occupied. When combined with the airport’s other hangars, total annual hangar revenue could reach about $35,000 at full capacity.

Barone said the city has generally remained just above the minimum threshold in recent years, operating with about 12 based aircraft over the past five to six years. That has kept the airport in good standing, but still close enough to the cutoff that additional hangar space was viewed as an important investment.

The hangar cost about $815,000, with the city’s share estimated at $112,660.50. Barone said the remainder was covered through outside aviation funding, with parts of the project falling under different grant match structures.

The city also sees the airport as an important asset beyond rental income. Barone said maintaining a viable airport helps Trenton stay in position for future grant-funded improvements, including work on airport infrastructure.

That need is especially important as the airport’s runway continues to age. Barone said the runway was last redone in the early 1980s, and replacing it entirely would cost about $9 million.

Even a 10% local match on a project of that size would be difficult for the city to absorb, he said, so the city plans to continue making repairs and maintenance improvements while seeking future funding opportunities.

Barone said the airport also serves travelers and businesses with ties to the area. In addition to hangar rentals, the airport has fuel sales and courtesy cars for pilots stopping in Trenton. He said those visitors may come for meals, business, farming, hunting or other local activities.

As such, a busier airport with updated facilities can help make Trenton more attractive to aviation users, he said.

With the new building already full and federal funding tied closely to aircraft activity, city leaders see the project as an important step in protecting one of Trenton’s transportation assets for years to come.