30-year-old hangar to undergo 250K in renovations

KENANSVILLE — The signs of progress are everywhere you look around in Duplin County. The airport is no exception with new roads and hangar upgrades in the books.

After a recent public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners approved Project Refresh through which Murphy Family Ventures LLC would take on up to $250,000 in improvements to the county-owned hangar at the Duplin County Airport.

The company also will hangar a recently purchased jet aircraft “about the equivalent of 86 homes as it compares to a tax value,” said Scott Summerlin, Economic Development Commission director, explaining that the plane would be based in Duplin County for up to five years. Summerlin added that Project Refresh will also lead to the creation of two new jobs and retain two others that pay at or above the local median average wage.

Joshua Raynor, Duplin County Airport director told the Duplin Journal that the hangar is almost 30 years old, and this was an effective way to renovate the space. “They put their capital up first and then they get paid back over a certain amount of time,” he explained. “They want to use their money to reinvest in the county to fix up the hangar for this new plane that they’re bringing here,” said Raynor. “So, it’s a good way for the county to get the hangar outfitted.”

The Beulaville native, who started his career at the airport more than 19 years ago, said it would be hard for the airport to fund a major renovation like that.

According to county documents, some of the improvements will include the construction of a 25’x25’ office with exterior metal matching the existing building, epoxy-coated floors, painting exposed beams, installing insulation in walls and ceiling, reworking gas piping, installing two HVAC units for dehumidification, etc. These updates are scheduled to be completed by June 2024.

“It helps us, and it helps them,” said Raynor. “If we let them use their money on our hangar, they will be more apt to stay here, and it also solidifies the bond between us and the company because if they are willing to put that kind of investment in, they would probably stay another 30 years.”

Raynor explained that the benefit of having a large aircraft like that based in Duplin, is the tax value. “The more tax value or the more valuable it is, the more taxes they are going to pay.”

For Raynor, the goal to keep the airport “a thriving asset for the county” is on the forefront. He added that they are working with the EDC to further develop the airport, also that the new roads at the Airpark are to prepare the infrastructure for future growth and to attract more businesses to Duplin County.

“The more people get out here, the more businesses tend to follow,” said Raynor. While Raynor has been the airport director for less than a year. He is not new to airport operations. Born and raised in Duplin County, the new director worked his way up the ladder starting as an airport technician, pumping gas, and mowing grass. After obtaining a business management degree, he was promoted to operations manager and promoted to director in August.

“For me it’s an honor to serve, and keep businesses coming,” said Raynor.