"Air Service Development: Illinois Airport Exceeds Goal - Now, What's the Next Step?"

Monday, June 16, 2003

Airport Exceeds Goal - Now, What's the Next Step?
WTVO-TV 17 ABC, Rockford (IL)


Who needs $250,000 when you can have more? "This is very unprecedented what
this community has done," says elated Airport Director Bob O'Brien.

"We had them deliver Saturday's mail so we could open it up this morning in
advance of Monday's traditional mail and it put us over the top at
$260,000."

And even when the community knew the goal had been met, people still came in
and added their checks to the stack....saying a few extra dollars won't
hurt, and just adding to O'Brien's excitement,

"People still coming in, that's just music to my heart because it means the
community gets it. They understand that this isn't the finish line, it's the
start line."

The extra thousands of dollars will also go towards promoting the new
airline. O'Brien says, "As we get these additional funds, we'll pool it into
the air service marketing campaign and we'll make sure it's used effectively
and accounted for."

Now that the money has been raised, the final details still have to be
worked out before we'll see planes in the skies above the airport.

The passenger service could also land more jobs in Rockford. There's no word
on exactly how many jobs the service might bring. Those details will be up
to the airline.

But 10 full and part-time federal employees could be stationed at the
airport along with security personnel.

There's also a possibility the airline will interview for local flight
attendant positions.

Rockford Airport Money Meter

Here's where you can keep track of how much money the Rockford Airport has
raised so far out of its $250,000 goal to bring passenger service to town.
 http://www.wtvo.com/Global/story.asp?S=1297182&nav=0RePGPZ6

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