The Cullman Regional Airport is embarking on another round of growth, announcing this week a pair of forthcoming development projects that will expand on-the-ground activity at the Vinemont-based facility.
State and local leaders turned out at the airport Thursday to welcome the announcement of a new aviation maintenance business at the airport, as well as new educational center for Wallace State Community College students seeking to enter the burgeoning career field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs director Kenneth Boswell revealed that the state will contribute $1 million toward the construction of a new airport facility that, when completed, will be operated by Wallace State as a training center for UAS aviation students. College president Dr. Vicki Karolewics hailed the project as a “new indoor training pavilion that will provide UAS flights and training in a safe, controlled environment under the guidance of Wallace State experts,” even as it affords students new tools in completing their related professional certifications.
Separately, Martin Aviation, a young regional business that specializes in on-site aircraft maintenance, announced plans to establish a new 10,000 square-foot service hangar at the airport, alongside 3,600 square feet of office space with room to add additional hangars as the business grows. Operated by husband-and-wife owners Chris and Cheris Martin, the company currently operates a single service hangar at the Scottsboro Municipal Airport, though Chris said he had long desired to bring his business to Cullman.
“About 12 years ago, my wife and I became frequent visitors to the Cullman airport. We often talked about how beautiful Cullman was, and how it would be an excellent place to live and raise a family,” he said, noting that the family-owned business owes its Cullman presence to the relationship the Martins had built with airport manager Ben Harrison — as well as a generational desire to expand on his flying family’s own legacy.
“My mom is a retired air traffic controller; my dad is a corporate pilot, retired — so being around aviation and small local airports was just a part of my childhood,” said Chris, an Oneonta native and Auburn University graduate.
Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) was in attendance and offered congratulatory remarks at Thursday’s announcement, alongside Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs (who also chairs the city-county airport board), Karolewics, Harrison, Boswell, Alabama House Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Fairview) and Cullman Economic Development Agency Director Dale Greer.
Boswell made memorable note of the airport’s contribution to Cullman County’s ongoing economic surge, joking about his many recent return trips to the area for an ongoing succession of new-project announcements.
“Little did I know, when I took this job, that this was going to be my second home,” said Boswell, whose ADECA reach spans the entire state. “Y’all need to rent me a house up here! … y’all have one of the most diverse industry backgrounds that I’ve seen throughout the state.”