Hopes flying high

When the facelift at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) in South Carolina is complete, city officials expect the economic impact to be significant, with one city official estimating the airport could bring in double the amount of money it generates now, according to a report at GoUpState.com. A 2006 state Aeronautics Commission study shows that SPA now generates between $10 million and $15 million for the local economy. The report also found general aviation airports contribute about $417 million annually to the state’s economy. General aviation airports are responsible for 5,167 jobs, with a total payroll of $178 million annually. Read the full story here.