The N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation staff were among hundreds of attendees at the 43rd Annual North Carolina Airports Association Conference in Pinehurst March 19-21.

NCAA’s annual conference aims to help North Carolina airports gain knowledge, skills and networks that aid their success. This year’s conference focused on the theme, “Airports – Leading the Way in Economic Development.” 

Aviation Director Bobby Walston and Aviation Business Development Manager Amanda Conner delivered a key address on the impact of North Carolina’s airports and ways the Division of Aviation can help airports expand their impact through grants, technical assistance and business development support. 

NCAA awarded scholarships for college students pursuing aviation-related careers and awards to airport professionals. Mr. Ron Maness, executive director of the Moore County Airport, was the recipient of the Willard G. Plentl, Jr. Airport Professional of the Year Award.

Pinehurst will be even more apt to host visitors following the downtown refresh planned for the village. 

Council has allocated around $200,000 to fund the refresh.

Work towards executing the new Downtown Amenity Plan will begin on Monday, March 27. The initial phase of the plan starts with a complete overhaul of the landscaped areas in downtown and is expected to take a few weeks.

Contracted crews will demolish the old, landscaped areas by removing and, in some cases, transferring current plants and shrubs to other areas of the Village. New irrigation will also be reconfigured for the new plantings.

“Enhancing the appearance of our downtown area is a priority of our Council and senior leadership,” said Assistant Village Manager Jeff Batton in a press release. “This landscape refresh is a welcome transition into spring.”

Village staff consulted with a landscape architect, used the Village Planting Guide, received feedback from key stakeholders and members of the Beautification Committee to select a robust and mostly native landscape to give the downtown area a refresh.

During the work, Village staff remind residents to be aware while navigating the downtown area.

“While we do not expect any road closures or impacts to parking areas, we do ask that drivers pay particular attention while in the area of workers,” said Batton in a press release.

Future work on the Downtown Amenity Plan will take place later this year and includes additional benches, bicycle racks, new vehicular wayfinding signage for public parking, new trash receptacles and new lighting features.