Ashland County Airport Authority Breaks Ground on Terminal Expansion

CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 24, 2025 – The Ashland County Airport Authority today celebrated the groundbreaking for a new 4,100-square-foot airport terminal building. The new building will include space to support an operation base for the county airspace, classroom, and flight simulators for a new aviation education training facility and provide a public pilots’ lounge and meeting spaces. The $1.95 million expansion is being assisted by a $300,000 JobsOhio Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) grant, providing the final funding needed to move the project to the construction phase.

“We are deeply grateful to Team NEO and JobsOhio for their generous support of the Ashland County Airport through this terminal building grant. This project aligns well with JobsOhio’s focus on building Ohio’s aviation industry and will also strengthen our role as a vital gateway to Ashland’s economy,” said Ashland County Airport Authority Trustee Tom Zupan. “The new terminal and flight school will support local businesses, attract new opportunities, and ensure that our airport continues to serve the community with excellence for years to come.”

In addition to the updated terminal building, the development plan includes 30 new parking spaces, aircraft hangar improvements, accessibility to training aircraft, an observation space for visitors, and space for future expansion. Upon completion, the terminal will be fully ADA-compliant.

“The addition of an aviation education training facility at the Ashland County Airport enhances Ohio’s position as a nationally recognized leader in the aviation and advanced air mobility space by helping fulfill the industry’s need for trained pilots,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The airport expansion and upgrade will support the growing Ashland County community, furthering business investment and economic development opportunities for the region.”

The new training program will be a Part 141 flight school, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified program that follows structured, curriculum-based training. The flight school will accommodate up to 50 students annually, supporting the industry’s need for additional pilots, state-of-the-art training for new aviation technology, and new career pathways for the county.

“The addition of an aviation education facility in Ashland County will help alleviate the increasing shortage of airline pilots in North America, which is exacerbated by a growing demand for air travel,” noted Team NEO Chief Executive Officer Matt Dolan. “The flight school will be centrally located making it accessible to students from Northeast Ohio and other nearby regions of the state, which will bolster the future of safe and efficient air travel with talent from the region while creating jobs.”

Collaboration from federal, state and local partners, including the FAA, the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Department of Transportation, JobsOhio and the Ashland County Commissioners, has made the project possible, from land acquisition to groundbreaking.

The JobsOhio OSIP program aims to fill gaps in Ohio’s real estate inventory, assist with mitigating developer risks preventing development, and accelerate the process of bringing in-demand projects and sites online.

About Team NEO

Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that ignites economic vibrancy, fosters sustainable growth, and champions equitable prosperity. As a designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we collaborate across all 14 counties in the Northeast Ohio Region to create strategies to attract and retain companies, drive innovation, cultivate a skilled workforce, advance market-ready sites, and promote and engage the region. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com. 

About JobsOhio

JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.