Other groups help county airport

By CARL E. FEATHER - Staff Writer - cfeather@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

June 29, 2009 11:59 pm

— DENMARK TOWNSHIP — The example of support shown by Ashtabula County commissioners has given rise to a new public trust fund to support airport operations.
Member Dwight Bowden unveiled the Ashtabula County Aviation Trust Fund of the Cleveland Foundation. Bowden, the first donor to the fund, said he created it to help the airport attract private funding for its operational needs.
Board president David Price said there are operational issues that have been ignored at the airport simply because the funding is not there to address them. The fund would provide money to address non-routine and emergency needs, and, on a temporary basis, operational funding. It cannot support future or prior debt, however.
While money has been available from federal sources to build airport infrastructure, finding the resources to maintain them and pay for day-to-day operations has been a challenge, said Price.
With the county commissioners committing resources to the airport, Bowden created the trust fund to supplement that funding from the private sector.
The fund, still in draft form, will have a three-person advisory committee that will recommend grants. The authority will name one person from its board and one from the community; the Cleveland Foundation will select the third adviser.
Members welcomed Bowden’s contribution as one more way to keep the infrastructure open.
“I think this is very forward thinking and a great idea,” said member John Palo.