Chamber President and CEO Dennis Lauver attended the board meeting and gave an update to the Chamber's 2008 economic development work plan and answered the Airport Authority's questions.
According to Dennis, the chamber has accomplished two very important things in the past year: 1. The development of the Salina Economic Development Team with monthly meetings that included with discussion, cooperation and teamwork. 2. An improved relationship with the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Some of the Chamber's economic development plans include:
- New business attraction - the prospect activity is up significantly.
- The Chamber will find ways to help existing business grow and expand.
- The plan calls for the improvement of the quantity and quality of the workforce.
- Committee members would like to find a way to improve workforce housing.
- The Chamber is looking for ways to help small business grow and develop.
The Salina Airport Authority Board of Directors approved the 2008 SAA/Chamber Economic Development Services Agreement.
The severe winter weather took its toll on aircraft and fuel flowage. The SLN air traffic control tower recorded the fewest number of takeoffs and landings (3,680) in over 20 years. Even major runway construction projects have not resulted in a month's total less than 4,000 operations.
For the month, total fuel flowage finished just above 200,000 gallons (234,643) for the first time since 1997. A bright spot for 2007 is the 36% increase in military/government fuel sales. The upward trend should continue throughout 2008.
An additional military charter pushed December passenger boardings to a 2007 monthly high of 353 passengers. Total year-to-date passenger enplanement did improve by 45%, finishing at 2,945.
Cash in the bank and bond funds on deposit were up at the end of the month due to two significant transactions closing prior to the year-end. The Airport Authority closed on the sale of building No. 217 to the State of Kansas with proceeds in the amount of $2,146,723. Later in December the Airport Authority received $984,900 when it closed on the 2007 A-GO Bonds. In January 2008, the majority of the proceeds from both transactions reduced the Airport Authority's long-term debt with the redemption of the Airport Authority's outstanding 2006-A temporary notes.
