Plans are advancing for the expansion of Chillicothe Municipal Airport and the purchase of land is hoped to be made this year for construction of a new runway.

The proposed 2009-10 budget for the city of Chillicothe includes $7,500 to be set aside in capital improvements to be the 5 percent required local match for $150,000 in federal funds anticipated to be awarded to the city this year.

Plans to build a 5,000-foot northeast/southwest runway have been in the works since the 1990s and no date for actual construction has been identified. Despite not having actual construction completed, the project “is definitely proceeding,” according to City Administrator Dean Brookshier. An update of the airport work was provided to council members during a budget workshop on March 23, 2009, at City Hall.

The new runway would replace the existing grass runway at the airport. The land purchase would involve around 90 acres.