Elizabeth City, N.C. – Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is taking another step toward building a statewide aviation network, with a $1.6 million investment to expand its apron at the Statesville Regional Airport. The project will help lay the groundwork for a future aviation hub and expand flight training opportunities.
The funding approved for improvements at Statesville Regional Airport includes $1.44 million from the state budget and a $160,000 local match to expand the airport’s apron—the paved area where aircraft are parked, fueled, loaded and serviced. This Statesville infrastructure investment is the first visible step toward a planned $12 million investment that includes five aviation hubs strategically located throughout North Carolina, university officials say.
“ECSU’s aviation expansion plan has been in the works for several years. The legislature has been incredibly supportive of the program,” said Nicholas Lenczycki, director of operations for ECSU’s Department of Aviation Science.
The university has already made significant progress on its first hub in Currituck County, where $8 million in state funding was approved in conjunction with ECSU’s new aviation academic building. Currituck County donated the land for the project, and flight operations are scheduled to begin Aug. 20, 2026. The academic building is expected to open on ECUS’s campus in summer 2027.
According to Lenczycki, aviation hubs are located on or adjacent to airport property, so partnerships with airport authorities and local governments are critical. In Statesville, airport leaders secured funding for pavement improvements adjacent to the site identified for ECSU’s future facility, helping position the project for its next phase once construction funding is secured.
“In addition to the state’s $1.44 million investment and local match for airport improvements, U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy has secured $1 million in congressional funding for flight simulators planned for the facility. ECSU is also pursuing approximately $9.4 million through a North Carolina Department of Transportation aviation grant with support from state Rep. Jeff McNeely,” said Kenneth Fontenot, director of Government Relations at ECSU.
University officials say continued investments from state and federal partners will be essential as ECSU works to expand its aviation footprint. Beyond facilities, the university’s growth strategy also includes additional aircraft acquisitions, staffing, and operational support to meet increasing demand for aviation education.
Those efforts are already underway. ECSU is currently pursuing its next aircraft acquisition using $3.9 million secured by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, and the university’s Board of Trustees Aviation Subcommittee is reviewing proposals from several manufacturers.
The aviation program has experienced rapid growth in recent years, increasing from 152 students in 2021 to nearly 500 students today. As ECSU expands aviation hubs across North Carolina, officials say the university can continue serving students while addressing workforce needs in aviation, aerospace and emergency management.
ECSU is committed to connecting communities and creating opportunities in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries through its expanding statewide aviation ecosystem. More than concrete and construction, the institution is preparing the next generation of aviation professionals and reinforcing its leadership in aviation education.
