Each month Castle Country Radio likes to take time to sit down with Carbon County Commissioner, Casey Hopes to discuss what is taking place in the county, he was eager to talk about tourism and the airport project.

The Tourism Department is moving to work with a new ad-agency this year and are looking forward to some new things taking place over the next year. “In 2024 we’re going to move to a new ad agency, we’re really excited about that opportunity. We’ve had a chance to grow our market share, meaning, we brought in more revenue in both transient room tax or the hotel tax, and restaurant tax and all that money, that we receive is being spent back in our local community,” said Commissioner Hopes. Those dollars are being spent on wayfinding signs, trails and other items to better serve visitors that come to our area, plus it beautifies the community for our residents.

The grant that was received to develop a bigger aviation program through the local university is going to help bring in more courses at the airport. “There’s going to be an Airport Management course taught right there at the airport. They’ll teach them how to be an FBO or a Fixed Based Operator, the ones that take care of transit planes that come in and out. They’ll be a new mechanics course that’ll teach them both the AMP, it’ll teach them how to be an AMP Mechanic, as well as, teach them how to repair the frame of an airplane as well,” said Commissioner Hopes. This not only would bring in potential students to our area but it could bring in companies who want to open a repair and maintenance shop at the local airport.

The development and growth of the Aviation Program is a great asset to our area as well as for the university. “They have an interest in growing the airport. More pilots, more planes, all benefit them and drives more people to take the courses that they have, the flying courses and the mechanics courses. It’s a good partnership and I’m excited to see if move forward in the future,” said Commissioner Hopes.