05/07/2026
FRANKLIN-HART REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Franklin-Hart Regional Airport Secures $4.9M in State and Federal Investment, Doubles Footprint, and Breaks Ground on Hangar Expansion
Investment positions FHAA as a regional economic engine and Northeast Georgia's strategic overnight hub for corporate and fractional jet traffic
CANON, GA . Franklin-Hart Regional Airport Authority (FHAA) today announced a defining milestone in its multi-year transformation: the airport has secured more than $4.9 million in State of Georgia general fund investment and federal funding, doubled its physical footprint, scheduled runway rehabilitation, and will break ground in mid-June on two corporate hangars to serve larger aircraft and ten T-hangars to serve general aviation. In 2019, FHAA was operating in the red and borrowing money to service mounting debt. The airport is now solvent and on track to become a true economic engine for Franklin and Hart Counties.
A capable corporate-class airport is no longer a convenience, it is core infrastructure for economic development. Site selectors evaluating manufacturing, distribution, and headquarters relocations consistently rank corporate aircraft access among their top siting criteria.
FHAA's strategy targets three segments: transient jet traffic, where revenue compounds across fuel, overnight hangar rental, and ancillary services; companies receiving Georgia tax incentives that currently hub aircraft in South Carolina, whom FHAA intends to win as the natural North Georgia base; and local owners who previously relocated to other airports for lack of executive hangar capacity, a gap the new construction directly addresses.
Progress reflects strong partnerships. Titan Fuels was selected as FHAA's fuel partner for past performance, capacity to scale, and cultural alignment, and provided both a fuel truck and crew car under the most recent fuel agreement.
At the legislative level, State Representative Alan Powell built the case alongside FHAA leadership and converted vision into appropriation. "Representative Powell did not just ask for funding," FHAA leadership noted. "He helped drive our strategy from vision to integration to fruition. His extraordinary effort is why this airport is on the path to becoming a leader in economic development.
Senator Bo Hatchett has provided invaluable support throughout the legislative process. “Bo understands that keeping business on the west side of Lake Hartwell benefits Georgia and that economic development takes place under the wings of aviation.”
Lt. Governor Burt Jones provided critical leadership as we navigated thru the legislative waters. “Burt frequents our airport and understands that aviation infrastructure is not the by-product of economic development it is the catalyst for it.”
Blake Tillery, Senate Appropriations Chairman, delivered exceptional effort in protecting the FHAA allocation through the final conference budget and delivering a level of accountability that reflects genuine leadership. Blake occasionally flies his airplane into FHAA. “Blake understands a simple truth: where aviation leads Economic Development follows.”
The Hart County Board of Commissioners has supported the strategic vision throughout, and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners is beginning to see the vision.
Groundbreaking on the two corporate hangars and ten T-hangars is scheduled for mid-June. The state and federal investment is the direct result of years of persistent advocacy, strategic vision, and exceptional legislative partnership, and marks a defining moment in the airport's evolution as a cornerstone of economic development for Franklin and Hart Counties.
About Franklin-Hart Regional Airport
Franklin-Hart Regional Airport (FHAA) serves Franklin and Hart counties in Northeast Georgia, providing general aviation services that drive and support regional economic development. The airport is owned and operated by the Franklin-Hart Airport Authority.
