ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Growth and improvement are the top priorities at the St. Landry Parish Airport as Parish President Jessie Bellard lays out the plans for much needed renovations.

"The airport is a jewel that we have in our parish that most people don't even know about," said Bellard.

Bellard says he's put an emphasis on making the airport a more vital part of the parish since taking office in 2020, but a major challenge was making sure the airport could handle an increase in business.

With funding drafted by Congressman Clay Higgins, Bellard says improvements to the facility are ready to begin.

"Our runway, 1836, is going to have new led lighting going up on there. We're going to be repainting the stripes. The north side of our airport has some trees that need to come down," Bellard said.

Other improvements include repaving taxiways and improving the fencing around the airport.

"Anything dealing with safety on the airport, we're going to be redoing it," Bellard explained.

As business has improved at the airport, including more than doubling its fuel sales and increased traffic as planes travel to St. Landry Parish if Lafayette's airport is busy, Bellard says these improvements ensure business continues to boom.

With those renovations already underway and expected to last through the summer, Bellard is already laying out additional plans to add more hangers and get more planes and more eyes on St. Landry Parish.

"I think we built six more hangers in the last couple of years. We have 20 planes waiting on the list to come to our airport, we're maxed out of space right now. We are asking for more money to build more hangers. Our airport is growing, and it's a lot of stuff happening on the airport, but it takes time and money and we're finally getting to that part," said Bellard.

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