The town of Florence is enjoying some new life up in the skies. Last year, Florence Regional Airport saw a very strong year in enplanements, setting records for the small town. In March 2009, more than 5,000 people boarded planes at Florence Regional, a 30% growth spurt from the the previous March. (Read more in SCNow’s article Florence Airport Expansion will be Felt Throughout the Pee Dee.)

The Pee Dee Regional Airport Commission has jumped on this trend and just wrapped up a large drainage project at the Florence airport, that is preceding a two-gate expansion. The new gates will double the size of Florence Regional and it will allow room for the expansion of up to 12 gates total, if the flight trend continues.

Half of the funding for the projects is coming from Federal Aviation Administration grants. The regional airport is looking to South Carolina government for additional funds to complete the project.

Companies like DuPont, Honda of South Carolina, and Roche Pharmaceuticals (read a press release about Roche expansion in Florence) have seen the potential for the area and have channeled over $1.1 billion into the area. Florence also has a great location to major roadways, being positioned strategically near the intersection of I-20 and I-95.

If the expansion continues, it will draw new business, strengthens existing business and increases jobs in the nine county Pee Dee area.

Read about the Pee Dee’s North Eastern Strategic Alliance.

See flight schedules for Florence.