$1M Grant Funds New Hangar at Mountain Empire Airport

(VIRGINIA) Mountain Empire Airport in Smyth County will add new aircraft storage after the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $1,000,000 DOT grant to build hangars on the airfield’s east side. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced the award on August 19, 2025, noting that the money from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will fund the East End Hangar Development. One day later, on August 20, 2025, the airport secured a separate $281,865 award for runway design and rehabilitation to improve safety and keep operations reliable during growth.

The funding goes to the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission, which owns and operates Mountain Empire Airport. The airport is a public-use general aviation field serving Marion and Wytheville. It operates a single 5,252 x 75 ft. runway and has faced a steady backlog of hangar requests. Airport leaders say new space will help serve both based aircraft and visiting planes that come through for business, family visits, and community events.

Congressman Griffith said the project answers a clear need on the ground. “This DOT grant for $1,000,000 helps the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission update facilities at Mountain Empire Airport for enhanced aircraft storage. More storage hangars will help Mountain Empire Airport meet requests for aircraft storage,” he said in his announcement.

Project scope and funding timeline

The East End Hangar Development focuses on building new hangars to handle months of pent-up demand for secured, weather-safe storage. Design and site preparation are already moving forward.

The Virginia Department of Aviation lists “Taxi lane and Hangar Site Preparation (Design)” as an active 2025 effort at Mountain Empire Airport, with funding increases recorded in August 2025. Construction industry tracking also lists the hangar program as active, signaling that contracting and pre-construction tasks are underway or imminent.

The separate $281,865 award for runway work will fund design and rehabilitation to shore up the pavement and extend the runway’s useful life. That work improves daily safety, especially during busy periods or poor weather, and helps the airport remain attractive to a wider range of general aviation users and small operators who rely on consistent runway conditions.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the grants align with Congressman Griffith’s Fiscal Year 2024 community project funding requests and flow through the FAA’s long-running Airport Improvement Program. The federal program helps small and mid-sized airports fix core infrastructure like runways, taxiways, and hangars. More details on how AIP grants work are available from the FAA Airport Improvement Program.

FAA oversight means the money will be released in steps tied to design, environmental checks, procurement, and construction milestones. The airport’s governing body will report progress and coordinate with state aviation officials to keep the schedule on track. In recent months, the Virginia Department of Aviation has highlighted hangar and taxi lane prep at Mountain Empire Airport in its funding allocations, showing state-level support for the same build-out.

Mountain Empire Airport’s push for added storage space reflects a wider trend across rural and small metro airports. Pilots want to shield aircraft from storms, temperature swings, and hail. Businesses that run frequent flights need predictable access to hangars for both protection and security. For families who keep a small plane based at the field, having a hangar often makes the difference between flying year-round or cutting back during winter months.

Local oversight and expected impact

The Smyth Wythe Airport Commission manages the airport and the project. The board includes representatives from Smyth and Wythe Counties and the towns of Marion and Wytheville. The commission holds public meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the terminal conference room. That schedule will give residents, pilots, and local business owners a steady place to ask questions about construction, timelines, and leasing options for the new hangars.

The commission’s priorities mirror what the grants target: add hangar capacity, improve safety, and support rising flight activity. More hangars can open the door to:

• Shorter wait times for pilots who have requested space
• More overnight options for transient aircraft tied to local events or business trips
• A steadier flow of aviation traffic that supports fuel sales and on-field services
• Better planning for weather events, since protected storage helps reduce damage risk

These changes tend to ripple into the local economy. When a general aviation airport adds hangars, it often sees:

• More based aircraft
• More visiting pilots
• Increased spending on fuel, maintenance, and lodging

The runway work, while less visible than a row of new buildings, is just as important. Smooth pavement helps keep operations safe, which can encourage pilots to use the field more often and helps insurers view the airport favorably.

For many rural communities, a well-run airport is not just about weekend flying. It can support quick medical transport, disaster relief staging, and law enforcement flights. The commission and local officials note that the expansion at Mountain Empire Airport strengthens those public-service roles by making the field more reliable during peak periods and harsh weather. The source funding and project descriptions point to that broader value: added storage and safer pavement tend to make an airport more capable when residents need it most.

Next steps and construction sequence

Practical steps are already in motion. With funding secured in August 2025, design and site work are expected to continue without delay. Once environmental reviews and procurement tasks are complete, ground work can begin.

Typical sequence for the hangar build-out:
1. Site grading and utility connections
2. Taxi lane tie-ins
3. Erection of steel frames
4. Installation of door systems, fire protection, and electrical systems

Runway work will follow a separate path:
1. Design and testing phases
2. Construction during weather windows to keep closures short

Officials have not announced leasing terms for the new hangars, but the commission has said demand exists and the plan is designed to relieve that pressure. Pilots waiting for space commonly ask:

• When can they sign?
• How many units will be available?

Those answers typically arrive after design, bid, and permitting steps define costs and delivery dates. The airport’s monthly meetings will be the best venue to hear those updates.

How to stay informed

The project comes with steady lines of communication for residents:

• Airport main line: (276) 783-8805
• Congressman Morgan Griffith’s offices:
  • Washington, DC: 202-225-3861
  • Abingdon, VA: 276-525-1405
  • Christiansburg, VA: 540-381-5671

People who want to track progress can call the airport, attend the public meetings, or check in with local government offices that work with the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission. County and town representatives often share updates during regular public sessions.

Broader context and outlook

The hangar build-out is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade cited in state planning. Along with the East End Hangar Development, the airport has a listed effort for taxi lane and hangar site preparation and the newly funded runway rehabilitation. Together, these projects point to a plan that balances storage and airfield safety—the combination most pilots want when they commit to base their aircraft.

Demand patterns at Mountain Empire Airport echo regional trends: flight training, business travel in small aircraft, and personal flying have all increased pressure on storage. Without hangars, based aircraft often sit outside, which can accelerate wear and raise repair costs. New hangars reduce that burden and can help keep aircraft in the region rather than pushing owners to relocate to fields with more space.

The $1,000,000 hangar grant and the $281,865 runway grant do not solve every long-term need, but they address the most urgent requests. Airport leaders have signaled they may seek additional state and federal dollars for further taxiway and runway work as future needs become clear. For now, the focus stays on design, site prep, and getting shovels in the ground.

For pilots and businesses watching the timeline, the key questions are simple: how soon will the East End Hangar Development deliver usable space, and how will the runway work affect daily operations? Based on the schedule described by the airport and state aviation listings, design and procurement tasks are moving first, followed by construction as soon as approvals are in hand. Any planned closures for pavement work should be announced well in advance to help visitors and based tenants plan their flights.

The airport’s steady growth reflects a community aim to keep the region connected. For families who fly to see relatives, for small companies that rely on same-day trips, and for public agencies that need quick air access, the airport’s role is practical and local. These grants help Mountain Empire Airport meet that role with safer pavement and more dependable storage, turning years of requests into new doors and concrete slabs on the east end of the field.

Key takeaways:
– $1,000,000 FAA/DOT grant funds the East End Hangar Development (announced Aug 19, 2025).
– $281,865 award funds runway design and rehabilitation (announced Aug 20, 2025).
– Design and site prep are active in 2025, with construction steps expected once environmental and procurement milestones are met.
– Public updates occur at monthly commission meetings (fourth Thursday, 6:00 p.m.).