Today, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin will join local Representatives and the Richland-Lexington Airport Commission for a groundbreaking ceremony on a project set to bring 350 jobs to Columbia.
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is getting a new, state-of-the-art Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting facility.
The current facility was built in 1974 and added on to in 1992. Officials say, because FAA standards have changed and the airport’s fire and police departments have combined to a single, 24-hour department, a new facility is needed.
With about 47 contractors working on the project, expected to cost $5.8 million dollars, officials estimate nearly 350 jobs will be created through construction. The project is slated to be complete by September 2015.
A ground breaking ceremony will be held Monday at 3:00 p.m. at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
