Major improvements are ready to soar at the Vernon Regional Airport.
The provincial government is providing $823,700 for runway rehabilitation at the city-owned facility on Tronson Road.
“It’s important that we help with the viability of the airport,” said Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA.
The project, which is expected to occur this year, will include paving the entire surface of the runway as well as some stabilization work.
The goal is to improve safety for airplanes taking off and landing.
“Any time we can get money from the government to improve services, it’s great,” said Mayor Akbal Mund.
The city promotes the airport as an economic catalyst, with the facility generating about 97 jobs and a gross domestic product impact of $57 million a year.
“Kal Tire uses the airport up to six or seven times a day and other planes land here,” said Mund, adding that small aircraft owners may relocate to Vernon as Kelowna International Airport becomes busier.
Foster is confident the airport will continue to bolster the region as a destination.
“We want to attract more visitors to the Okanagan and Vernon in particular, and these upgrades will make that happen,” he said.