LEESBURG, Fla. — The Leesburg City Commission approved a plan to move forward with a multi-unit hangar building at the Leesburg International Airport Monday evening.

Leesburg city leaders feel the airport is an economic hub not only for the city but for Lake County and surrounding areas.

What You Need To Know

  • Leesburg City Commission votes to approve a plan to build a multi-unit hangar building at the Leesburg International Airport

  • The hangars will serve as a hub for new or growing businesses

  • The project costs $1.8 million dollars and will be paid for in grants up to $1.4 million dollars, with the remaining $400,000 being paid with airport funds

  • After a procurement process, shovels are expected to be in the ground in 60 to 90 days

The $1.8 million dollar project will be covered by grants of up to $1.4 million dollars, with the remaining $400,000 coming from the airport funds.

Four corporate hangars will be built to serve as a hub for new or growing small businesses.

Leesburg Mayor Alan Reisman said that the airport supports so many jobs and businesses and believes the hangars are crucial to continuing that work.

“Adding those hangars are critical for the sustainability of the airport," he said. "Not only with the jobs, but just the economic development that it will bring into the city is huge for us and the viability of the airport.”

The airport is already home to a flight school as well as Brainerd/FireHawk Helicopters, which help with fighting fires, assisting with construction and providing lift jobs all around the world.

"So many people don’t even know what happens at the Leesburg International Airport," said Reisman. "There's so many jobs, so many businesses, such economic development happens there and as the mayor, I will do anything I can to continue to see that airport grow and prosper.” 

The next step is to go through a procurement process, so they expect to have shovels in the ground in about 60 to 90 days.