GSP Receives $5.2 Million Grant for Air Cargo Infrastructure Improvements

Kim Stevens South Carolina

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5.2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant to support infrastructure improvements at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), according to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo.

The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District (District) will provide $3.4 million in local matching funds to the $5.2 million EDA investment for infrastructure improvements at GSP for a total investment of $8.6 million. Improvements will include the expansion of the airport’s air cargo apron and the extension of a roadway and utilities to facilitate the continued expansion of air cargo facilities at GSP.

Air cargo activity at GSP has increased significantly in recent years. In 2021, the airport experienced a record-breaking 96,800 tons of cargo, an increase of over 48% from 2020. Included in that total is over 47,600 tons of international freight valued at $5.46 billion, an increase in value of 25.1% over 2020. In 2021, GSP was ranked #21 in the nation in terms of international freight tonnage handled according to USTradeNumbers.com.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.