BRUNSWICK – The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, the agency that is redeveloping the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, will receive $1.1 million in federal funding to help renovate a former Navy Air Operations Center and turn it into a general aviation terminal.

The general aviation terminal will provide passenger waiting space and a facility for a fixed-base operator, which typically sells fuel, provides aircraft maintenance, flight instruction or other aviation-related services.

“This federal funding helps move the Brunswick Executive Airport one more step forward toward becoming a full service general aviation airport,” said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine.

“Replacing the economic impact that the (Brunswick Naval Air Station) had on the area will take time, but MRRA has been doing a great job with that transition and this federal grant helps them with their long-term redevelopment plans,” Pingree said.

The Brunswick Naval Air Station closed in 2011 and about 7,000 people left the area, according to the state Department of Labor.

The redevelopment authority has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to “welcome an exciting new business to Maine.” Details were not immediately available.

Pingree’s husband, S. Donald Sussman, is the majority share owner of MaineToday Media Inc., which publishes the Portland Press Herald.

Jessica Hall can be contacted at 791-6316 or at:

jhall@pressherald.com


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