Seward Announces $70,000 Grant
For Remodeled Airport Terminal
![After two years of construction of the new terminal at the Oneonta Airport is finally completed. Mayor Gary Herzig, flanked by OJC student Joe Henness, Len Carson, Jeff Back, Dennis Finn, Ed May, Chris Kuhn and OJC student Nate Morris, cuts the ribbon at the Oneonta Municipal Airport, where the milestone was celebrated this afternoon. In remarks beforehand, Kuhn praised his students' work; "They did not disappoint. We've been involved with a lot of projects over the years, this has been the best so far." Mayor Herzig, who had lunch with former Mayor Sam Nader earlier today, recounted how Nader had considered the building of the airport the project he was most proud of. "For years the airport languished, and was even given up for dead.", said Herzig. "But you have brought back this facility for Oneonta's future. You have done us a real service." Senator Jim Seward hailed the work and announced he has secured a $70,000 grant to help complete the work. "First impressions mean a lot.", said Seward. "This terminal tells those who arrive in our community 'this is a great place to live, to visit and to work.'" Many cited the passion of current Airport Commissioner Dennis Finn, who worked at the airport in it's first days. "I love this place and people who come here love it, too" (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/H35A4776-1024x683.jpg)
![Seward praises the Job Corps work and, as a reward, announces an $80,000 grant to continue it.](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/H35A4666-300x248.jpg)
By IAN AUSTIN • for www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – At the ribbon cutting at the Oneonta Municipal Airport this afternoon, state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, hailed the work with an announcement that he has secured a $70,000 grant to help complete the job. “First impressions mean a lot,” said Seward. “This terminal tells those who arrive in our community ‘this is a great place to live, to visit and to work.'”
In remarks beforehand, Oneonta Job Corps Director Chris Kuhn praised his students’ work on th terminal. “They did not disappoint. We’ve been involved with a lot of projects over the years, this has been the best so far.”
Mayor Gary Herzig, who had lunch with former Mayor Sam Nader earlier today, recounted how Nader was most proud of what he had accomplished at the airport: For a period, there was daily flights back and forth to New York City. “For years the airport languished, and was even given up for dead,” said Herzig. “But you” – the OJC team – “have brought back this facility for Oneonta’s future. You have done us a real service.”
Many cited the passion of current Airport Commissioner Dennis Finn, who worked at the airport from its first days. “I love this place and people who come here love it too,” Finn said.