The Griffiss International Airport has been undergoing a facelift since it opened in 2007. From nose docks to taxiways, millions of dollars in federal funding have poured into the airport at the former Air Force base in Rome.
"We've done a lot of renovations up here," said Airport Commissioner Chad Lawrence.
Many of those renovations have come on the heels of major funding initiatives over the years.
U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, recently announced a $4.4 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to complete the third and final phase of a runway rehabilitation project at Griffiss. It's just one instance of a DOT grant received for rehabilitation work through the Airport Improvement Program. Griffiss was awarded $7.5 million in 2018 and $8.1 million in 2019.
While some of the more recent improvements involve reconstruction of the airport's runway and runway lighting, past work includes renovation of five nose docks, fixing taxiways and lighting systems, renovation of several buildings, and energy performance upgrades that reduce heating costs.
Last August, a $12 million computer technology research center, dubbed the Open Innovation Campus, was unveiled at the three-floor, 40,000 square-foot facility within Building 100. Campus collaborators said they plan to use quantum information processing to analyze and improve computer hardware and software, data protection, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, among other research areas.
In December, Strategic Global Aviation signed a five-year lease — valued at $1.96 million — to occupy Building 101. The building formerly housed Premier Aviation and the county purchased the building after the company left in the summer of 2018.
In January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state would invest $9 million at Griffiss to establish a small drone facility. The facility is named Skydome and will allow for the experimentation of drone technology and techniques.
"It's an important part of our region," Lawrence said of the airport.
https://goo.gl/maps/zHcWpEDZBuXotFoZ8FLYING THROUGH HISTORY
The Oneida County Airport, formerly in Whitestown, closed in 2006 and was moved to Griffiss the following year. It was renamed Griffiss International Airport. Homeland Security currently occupies the former facility in Whitestown, Lawrence said.
The new airport is part of the Griffiss Business and Technology Park, which used to be an Air Force base. The base closed in 1995.
Griffiss International Airport is 1,700 fenced-in acres and has a runway which is 11,820 feet x 200 feet, Lawrence said.
"We can handle almost any aircraft in the world," he added.
Air Force One has landed at the airport twice, carrying Presidents Donald Trump and Barrack Obama to the region.
PARK ASSET
Officials have said the airport helps the park differentiate itself from other business parks.
The airport is not open to the community and primarily is used for maintenance and general aviation, Lawrence said.
But it's not just a fly-in fly-out facility. Private companies and individuals utilize the runways as well. Lawrence said more than 80 aircraft are stored at the airport.
Steven J. DiMeo, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE said its presence helps businesses at the park thrive.
"The Griffiss International Airport and UAS Test Site are anchor tenants at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park," DiMeo said. "These assets help differentiate us from other business parks across the country. The expansive runway, coupled with the technological innovations that have been completed and underway have created an environment for companies and organizations to succeed in new and exciting ways."
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