Construction on the long-anticipated second phase of the Inverness Airport Business-Industrial Park is expected to begin in early 2026, following approval of an $8.83 million construction contract by Citrus County officials.
The update was shared during the Dec. 11 Aviation Advisory Board meeting, where county representatives confirmed that preparatory steps are underway and work could begin as soon as late January or early February. Project completion is targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
“The contractor has been awarded,” Aviation Division Project Manager Todd Regan told board members. “We’re tentatively planning a pre-construction meeting in late January, early February, and hopefully we start pushing dirt shortly after. Big project.”
Phase 2 of the Inverness Airport Business-Industrial Park represents a major infrastructure investment designed to support aviation-related and light-industrial development on approximately 75 acres near the airport. County bid documents outline a 425-day construction schedule covering site preparation, utility installation, roadway construction, taxiway expansion, and project closeout.
The contract was awarded to Commercial Industrial Corp., which submitted the lowest responsible bid among four proposals. The project is fully funded through a $9 million Florida Commerce grant, ensuring no local tax increase is required to support the development.
Regan said construction timelines are aligned with county planning documents, with substantial completion anticipated around early 2027. Infrastructure improvements will include new internal roadways, extensions of water and sewer utilities, telecommunications and fiber installations, stormwater treatment systems, rehabilitation of South Airport Road, and an extension of Taxiway X from the existing airfield into the business park.
The taxiway expansion is expected to play a key role in attracting aviation tenants. One of those tenants, Livewire Aviation, plans to construct a corporate hangar at the airport. Regan told board members that a memorandum of understanding between the county and Livewire has been signed by the company and is awaiting final county execution.
“That memo basically notifies both parties that there is a lease and holds us accountable as we move forward,” Regan said. “We’re at about 60 percent design now and want to move toward 100 percent and get that out to bid as soon as possible.”
Livewire Aviation is relocating its main headquarters to a new corporate hangar and heliport facility at the Inverness Airport Heliplex. The company specializes in powerline vegetation management using helicopters equipped with large hanging saws. County officials expect the relocation to generate hundreds of high-wage jobs, including positions for pilots, mechanics, fabricators, and ground crews, while also strengthening Florida’s disaster response capabilities through faster storm recovery deployments.
Officials estimate that Phase 2 infrastructure could ultimately support up to 500,000 square feet of light-industrial space, positioning the Inverness Airport as a regional hub for aviation, logistics, and industrial employers.
During the same Aviation Advisory Board meeting, officials provided updates on several other airport-related projects across Citrus County.
At Crystal River Airport, work continues on the planned Runway 9-27 extension. Regan said the Federal Aviation Administration has reviewed the county’s draft environmental assessment and returned it with largely minor comments.
“A lot of it is grammatical or requests for a little more information,” Regan said. “We’re responding now and sending it back.”
Board members also discussed fuel tank replacement projects at county airports, noting extended fabrication and delivery lead times ranging from eight to 12 months. Regan said the county is coordinating closely with contractors and fuel suppliers to minimize disruptions and ensure temporary fueling options remain available.
In addition, officials received a brief update on a proposed fire station near the airport. Regan said discussions are focused on design coordination issues such as right-of-way access, utility compatibility, and emergency vehicle circulation, all of which could affect construction timelines if not resolved early.
Originally reported by Mike Arnold Chronicle Reporter in Citrus County Chronicle.
