The Schuylkill County Commissioners have pledged their support for a project to lengthen the runway at the Pottsville-Schuylkill County Airport.

The board agreed Wednesday to pledge $350,000 toward a project that airport officials say will improve the local economy by making the nearby Highridge Business Park and other potential development sites more attractive to companies."While the airport currently serves as part of the county's economic development infrastructure, if it is expanded so larger and heavier aircraft can use it, it can only be more of an asset," airport authority solicitor Marty Cerullo said.Extending the airport to 5,000 feet would make it easier for corporate clients to use the airport year-round, officials said.At present, the main runway at the Schuylkill Airport is about 4,600 feet long. But many makers of private planes, and more specifically their insurers, require a runway of at least 5,000 feet in winter months.That means that corporate planes sometimes have to divert to other nearby airports in inclement weather, Cerullo said."Even those who regularly use the park now sometimes have to fly to Allentown and Hazleton," Cerullo said.The project, estimated to cost $2.9 million, ultimately depends on a grant from Harrisburg. The county's portion represents half of the local match money needed for the grant. The airport authority, which is spearheading the project, is responsible for running the county-owned airport.The commissioners were excited about the project and its potential to grow the airport's already great contribution to the county's economy.Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier said that the airport was critical to the expansion of Highridge Business Park."When we purchased the Highridge Business Park it was 2,500 acres of barren land. I never thought we would be looking to buy more land. And the airport has been a critical part of attracting those Fortune 500 companies," he said.The airport has helped the county's ability to attract large companies, by providing a place for them to easily access their businesses via private planes, Commissioner Gary Hess said."We're along a major corridor and a lot of Fortune 500 companies have come here," Hess said. "I think this is an important key to making sure future development continues."