MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — An agreement among two organizations and the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority (EWVRAA) is intended to bring new development on and around the property.
Through the agreement, XL Holdings, Inc. and 6-A Aviation, Inc. will market two parcels of land to potential end-users. The firms have experience marketing air cargo and aviation facilities. The teams will work with investors, engineers, architects and designers to market EWVRAA land parcels.
“They can get their marketing packages in front of the right people,” airport manager Neil Doran told MetroNews affiliate WEPM. “They are going to see if they can get some end users that would sign agreements with them that would want to occupy the facility. They would arrange (it) like a turn-key solution where they build it all out, they arrange and negotiate a ground lease with the airport authority and they have it ready for them.”
One of the parcels, described as totaling just over six acres near U.S. Route 11, could potentially be the site of a travel center for trucks. The possibility of such a facility including a gas station and fast food restaurant could also be explored. The other parcel of land equals 16.6 acres and could support a wide range of businesses.
“That’s something that they are pitching to us and we’re excited to, basically at no cost to us, partner with them. It’s a rather simple agreement, maybe four or five pages. Initially 12 months is the period of time we would have to give them an opportunity to send out their marketing packages and see if they can get some interest.”
As part of the agreement, all development on the parcels must fall within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. The firms would have to seek the FAA’s approval before development could occur.
“We’re excited to see the concept advance from nearly a theoretical idea to some acknowledgement within the industry that there could really be something here,” said Doran. To be able to put it out there to the players and to the folks on the inside of this industry. It’s something the board is very excited about, and I’m excited about, because it’s right in line with our strategic business plan and our goals.”
According to a previous economic impact study, the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority (EWVRAA) generates more than $224.6 million in total economic output annually. It also comprises of 2.2% of all jobs in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties equaling just over 1,600 total.
The airport is also home to the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing.