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to seek Tier 4 status for each territory. He reported that AirCommerce Park West required
additional review due to its complexity and that a final quality assurance review is being
conducted before submission to VEDP. He reported that VEDP has indicated that they will
provide an expedited review and will either confirm Tier 4 status or provide follow-up questions
if additional information is needed. Mr. Morello stated that there are opportunities to pursue
further grant funding to support expanded due diligence and pre-development activities, and that
he, Economic Development Authority (EDA) staff Florence Kingston and Tom O’Grady, and
VEDP representatives are continuing planning discussions to determine which activities should
be included in an application for the next round of VBRSP grant funding. Chair Smith reported
that Mr. Morello is working with the EDA staff to develop ACP site identification signage to
help market them as ready for development, although a specific timeline for the signage will
require further coordination.
Master Plan Update: Mr. Morello stated that the consultant has submitted a group of draft
sections that includes design alternatives, elements of the environmental overview, and the
triggering events that would lead to different development paths. Mr. Morello reminded
Commissioners that the Master Plan differs from previous plans because it is designed to
incorporate flexibility for capital improvement, decisions, and funding sources, including federal,
state, and local funding. He also explained that instead of waiting until the end of the process for
approval from the Department of Aviation and the FAA, both entities have been actively
involved and creating an efficiency by helping guide Plan drafting decisions that will lead to
achieving quicker acceptance and approval. Mr. Morello reported that there is still substantial
review required for the remaining draft sections to ensure the final document is both approvable
and remains valuable and useful for the next ten years. Chair Smith agreed and added that the
inclusion of the FAA in the process has been especially beneficial because it allows for real-time
feedback that the consultant, Passero, can immediately incorporate.
Partnership Reports:
Mobile Innovation Center (MIC). Mr. Morello reminded Commissioners that the Virginia Mobile
Innovation Center (MIC) is a private-sector–led initiative seeking approximately $3 million in
funding from the Go Virginia Grant program as part of a $4.5 million total project budget, with
the remaining funds provided through matching contributions and in-kind support, mostly from
private sector partners. He reported that the proposal has recently been expanded to include a
stronger focus on education and workforce development, with partners such as Christopher
Newport University, Hampton University, community colleges, and other institutions developing
aviation-related programs and the initiative will create a workforce training pipeline for the
uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) industry. This will involve training in piloting, sensor
technologies, and emerging airspace technologies if the grant is awarded. Mr. Morello stated that
the programs will span multiple education levels with the goal of building and retaining aviation
workforce talent in the region. He said that while beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS)
operations are not expected at the airport in the immediate future due to current regulatory
barriers, the program aims to prepare the workforce for these future capabilities. He reported that
the project team will present the revised proposal in a pitch call to the technical committee on
February 26th, with the Go Virginia state board scheduled to consider final approval on March
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