Gov. Beshear Cuts Ribbon at Gallatin County Regional Airport

The new regional airport is located near Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

(Gallatin County, Ky.) – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday morning at Kentucky’s newest airport.

Governor Andy Beshear was joined by federal, state, and local officials at the Gallatin County Regional Airport in Sparta.

The airport, located near Kentucky Speedway, will serve the Interstate 71 corridor between Louisville and Cincinnati, closing a logistical gap for aircraft users in the area while boosting economic development, emergency services and tourism in the region.

The non-commercial airport features a 5,000-foot by 75-foot concrete runway with a full parallel taxiway and apron. The $44 million project received $18 million in state funding, $25.5 million in federal funding and $55,000 from the county.

More enhancements are planned at the airport, including a state-funded terminal building and fuel system that will open in 2024.

Gallatin County Regional Airport is expected to be a home base airport for over 20 aircraft and host approximately 13,000 takeoffs annually. The airport will be funded using revenue from jet fuel sales, hanger rental fees and fuel excise tax returns, among other federal, local, and state project funds.

The governor also expects the airport to host future flight-training and aviation maintenance classes in partnership with community colleges.