Last month, officials from McDuffie, Lincoln, Warren, Columbia and Wilkes counties met at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport to plan a regional partnership for tourism and development. This month, the group will converge again at the airport to present their idea to Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
The idea for a regional partnership began with State Sen. Jim Whitehead's weekly meetings with city and county officials in the area he represents.
"I think the most excited person in the whole group is Sen. Whitehead," said Don Powers, Forward McDuffie Director.
The five counties represented are those that surround Clarks Hill Lake. The first agenda for the "in the works" partnership will be extending the runway and adding a commercial hangar at the Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport in hopes of attracting new opportunities to the lake area. According to Mr. Powers, Georgia sets aside monies for rural airport development.
Gov. Perdue is scheduled to speak at a Republican Party Fish Camp Breakfast at Savannah Rapids Pavillion on July 30. Mr. Powers said Sen. Whitehead took advantage of the situation, and asked the governor to fly-in to the Thomson airport on his way to Columbia County. The officials involved in the pending partnership will give a 10-minute presentation to the governor on improvements needed at the airport.
