On Tuesday, Greenville residents and leaders headed out to the Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport for the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the runway.

In June, Mayor Dexter McLendon informed the Greenville City Council that in addition to an approximate $2 million grant from the Federal Aviation

Administration, the Alabama Department of Transportation would contribute $1.2 million to the project.

The funds received by the City of Greenville will go to expanding the airport runway from 3,800 feet to over 5,000 feet, allowing corporate jets to land which will enhance the city's industrial image, and to the relocation of Airport Road 0.7 mile to the west.

Among those present at the groundbreaking ceremonies were Rep. Charles Newton, Sen. Wendell Mitchell, John Eagerton of the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, Alabama Speaker of the House Seth Hammett and Goodloe Sutton of Rep. Richard Shelby's office.

"Economic development is very important not only to Greenville, but also to the State of Alabama. The expansion of the runway here is going to make a difference in development in this area," said Mitchell.

"This project will make a huge impact on economic development," said Hammett. "It will allow corporate planes to land here which will increase economic development both locally and statewide."

"We are really excited about this project. This is a project that would normally take three years, but with the help of the City Council, we made it happen in seven months. This is only the first step

Be ready because Greenville is on the grow," said Mayor Dexter McLendon.