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Study finds Willard Airport’s economic impact is upwards of $100M annually

Willard Airport (CMI) recently released the results of this economic impact study, which was made possible through the support of a variety of community partnerships. The study was conducted in 2019, and its findings showcase that the economic impact of Willard Airport to our community is $99.75M annually, which is impressive. There is a ton of tangible value to having CMI as a resource in our community, so be sure to check out the results of the report linked below to see more.

From Willard Airport’s website:

ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY

In 2019, Volaire Aviation Consulting developed a comprehensive Airport Economic Activity and Impact Study of the University of Illinois-Willard Airport. The study estimates the economic impact of all measurable and airport dependent economic activity at the airport. Key areas of economic activity measured were:

  • existing air service;
  • visitors brought to the county by airlines and general aviation;
  • all non-airline airport dependent activity such as aviation education, the Fixed Base Operator (FBO), and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations;
  • all airport and air service support functions including airport administration, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Willard is a significant economic engine for Champaign County and the surrounding region. Read the entire report here.

The report was sponsored by Champaign County Economic Development CorporationUniversity of Illinois-Willard AirportVisit Champaign CountyCity of ChampaignParkland CollegeFrasca InternationalUniversity of Illinois Research ParkFlightstar, and the Champaign County Association of REALTORS®


Image from Willard Airport’s website.

Top image from Willard Airport’s website.

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