Perry-Houston County Airport unveils new entrance sign

Nearly three weeks after hosting the annual Wings of Freedom Tour event, the Perry-Houston County Airport unveiled a new entrance sign on Wednesday that will reshape the image of the facility.

For the past two years, the airport has been working hard to revitalize the entranceway to the facility. The project was funded by the 2006 SPLOST.

Billy Jerels, Chairman of the Airport Authority, explained the background of why the airport went through with this project.

“It was a desire that we had to improve access to the airport,” Jerels said. “When we redid Airport Road, the entrance was kind of hard to find. We asked the county to help us. They were gracious enough to do that for us; it was good to work with the county.

“I don’t know if the entrance itself will attract people, but we hope that folks continue to use the airport. It will make it easier to find. It also sets a tone for the quality of the asset that we have from people that are coming or leaving.”

From an economic standpoint, Jerels said these improvements will broaden the demographics for who uses the airport going forward.

“Progress is made incrementally, and the goal is to have a first class airport facility for people to come to our community,” he said. “The impression we give them we hope will benefit those people that are trying to attract new business. Many times we have decision makers that come and have a very nice aircraft. This is their first impression of the community. We believe that small piece of the puzzle is a benefit.”

Several city officials including Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth, City Manager Lee Gilmour, Councilmembers Randall Walker and William Jackson, Houston County Commissioner Tom McMichael and Tommy Stalnaker, Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, attended the event.

Faircloth said that the new entrance sign would serve as an asset for the city of Perry.

“Anytime we can improve the front door of a community – because this is truly the front door of an economic engine that drives this area – that’s very positive and impressive for our visitors,” he said. “The nicer it is, the better it will be.”

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