Although Valdosta is a long way from New York and Washington D.C., the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 helped reshape our community’s future.

One of the most directly impacted industries in our community was air travel, and particularly, the Valdosta Regional Airport. The Airport Authority, along with many individuals from the business community, were actively working to attract a second airline to Valdosta’s airport at the time of the September 11 attacks, and they were very close to making it happen.

Pre-9/11, the airline industry was faring very well and many carriers were looking to expand routes. Delta/ASA was doing well with its schedule between Valdosta and Atlanta, and another carrier was being solicited to add flights between Valdosta and another city, possibly Memphis. It took more than three years to get the number of flying passengers back up to pre-9/11 levels, but the overburdened airline industry is not looking to expand anywhere these days, so our second airline is still on the wish list.

Maybe when the third longest runway in the state opens soon at the Valdosta airport, we will have the ability to attract enough business to be able to once again try to expand the city’s airline service.



Business Roundup

No, I don’t know when Wooden Nickel is reopening, but I’m working on finding out. In the meantime, they put the signs up this week on the building and it looks like the interior work is going fast and furious. The owners were looking at a mid-September opening, and if they keep up this pace, they’ll make it.

The work on Five Points Toyota’s new location by the interstate is going well. When they move this fall, Dodge of Valdosta will move to their location and there will be some news next week on who is taking over their current spot on N. Ashley St.

I understand there are a lot of changes going on at Summit Pointe off Inner Perimeter Road, with new construction and new businesses, so look for a story in next week’s business section.

The newly refurbished Arbys on North Ashley Street is open and the McDonalds being rebuilt doesn’t look like they’re going to make their initial 12-week promise, although it will be close.

As long as they don’t use the I-75 timetable, they should be fine.

The Walgreens on Gornto is almost finished and so is Kohls. The mall should be holding a grand opening celebration soon, and the new stores should be opening in time for the Christmas shopping season, including Talbots and Jos. A. Banks.

The renovation of the former Harveys in Remerton into several smaller retail spaces is going well and I’ll keep you updated on it. And as soon as we can get more information, we’ll be writing about the Federal Express expansion in the industrial park also.

I hope you read yesterday’s paper about the Organic Milling company which just purchased the former Crackin’ Good bakery site and will be producing regular and organic cookies, crackers, cereal and food bars. Great for the city and especially for the workers who are interested in going back to work there.

Holiday weeks are always unusual weeks, and this one was no exception, so more questions than answers this week. If you know the answers or anything I missed, please let me know.