In a study released in February, the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s aeronautics division created the Tennessee Aviation System Plan to undergo an aviation economic impact study to determine “how Tennessee’s 78 system airports support the economy…”
Tennessee generated $40 billion in total economic impact and contributed to 11% of Tennessee’s gross domestic product. The state was split into four regions, and Clarksville Regional Airport or Outlaw Field served in the highest-grossing impact region.
Region 3 was comprised of airport operations in the west-central area of the state. Region 3 employed more than 400 people at the airports and played host to 140 businesses, which employed 11,000 people. Region 3 mounted responsibility for $4.739 million in on-airport economic impact, $5.773 million in visitor spending and $7.797 million in freight and cargo. This region is one of the fastest-growing areas of the United States, “with the Nashville area experiencing over 60% growth in net migration and 43% growth in employment from 2010- 2019,” according to the 2019 TDOT aviation economic impact study.
The Clarksville Regional Airport is a part of the expanding aviation services in the state. TDOT Region 3 makes up $18 billion in economic impact. Outlaw Field helped to boost the local economy by generating $30.7 million from on-airport impacts and $2.6 million in visitor spending impacts that resulted in a $33.3 million total economic impact.
Clarksville Regional Airport was associated with the creation of 182 jobs, $13 million in payroll and $20.7 million in value added.
“I appreciate TDOT aeronautics division for going out into the state to conduct this economic impact study, which shows how the airport is vital to the Clarksville community and surrounding area,” said airport manager John Patterson.
“The Clarksville Regional Airport is committed to furthering its community engagement and to assist the city of Clarksville, as well as Montgomery County, by continuing to support more economic growth in the area,” said airport accounts and marketing manager Toni Chambers.
To view the 2019 aviation economic impact study’s executive summary, visit tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/aeronautics/TASP-Economic%20Impact%20Brochure.pdf.