Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to Update Impact Analysis

Posted on Wed, Feb. 18, 2004 
 
Airport to Update Impact Analysis
Bradenton Herald, FL


SARASOTA - Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
officials want to know how valuable the facility is to
the local economy.

The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority on Monday
approved spending $25,000 to update an economic-impact
study that was done in 1997.

"It's seven years old and we think it's time to update
it, especially as we go out into the community to show
the airport's worth to the community," said Fred
Piccolo, the airport's president and chief executive.

The 1997 study, conducted by a Cincinnati firm,
estimated the airport had a $959 million annual impact
on Manatee and Sarasota counties.

But the airport's passenger traffic has been in a
six-year decline, with last year's 1.06 million people
the lowest total in a quarter-century. That has led to
increased speculation about the airport's viability,
with some critics suggesting it be closed.

The updated study, to be done by Wilber Smith
Associates, is expected to take several months to
complete, Piccolo said.

Also Monday, the authority:

• Selected The LPA Group Inc. to design and supervise
construction of taxi lanes for future general aviation
T-hangars. Airport staff now will negotiate a contract
with the company.

• Agreed to approach Host Marriott Corp., the
airport's contracted concessionaire, about replacing a
yogurt shop in the terminal with "upscale" vending
machines that could feature Blimpie Subs, Red Baron
pizzas, Nathan's Hot Dogs and Tony Roma's Ribs.

• Renewed Interspace Airport Advertising's agreement
to offer display advertising in the terminal for
another five years. The airport gets 36 percent of the
company's gross revenues generated from ads in the
airport.
 


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