Starting Feb. 1, the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County will no longer be the name of the local airport.
From that date on, it will be known as the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport.
Airport Manager Devon Brubaker spoke to the Sweetwater County Commissioners at its recent meeting about the name change.
The Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Joint Powers Airport Board voted for the name change at its Jan. 10 meeting, to change the name to the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport effective Feb. 1.
“Changing the name of the airport is a big step in our efforts to develop our airport and the region it supports,” Airport Board Chairman Jim Wamsley said in a press release. “We need a brand that is recognized in the global marketplace. This change dovetails with the branding of our General Aviation facilities and services to Sweetwater Aviation in 2016.”
The Sweetwater County Commissioners supported the name change and were wondering it the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Joint Powers Airport Board needed to change its name to match the airport’s name.
Brubaker said after researching the issue, he discovered this would be the third name change for the airport. In 1969, it was called the Rock Springs Airport.
Then, in 1989, it was changed to Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport. With all of those name changes, it was always operating under a doing business as and the board’s name hasn’t changed.
Brubaker said the airport board doesn’t have a strong opinion either way on whether or not to change the name.
However, after more time to consider the issue, deputy county attorney James Schermetzler said if the board changes its name to match the airport, it gives the impression that residents other than Sweetwater County and Rock Springs residents will sit on the board. That’s just not the case nor the intent of the name change.
The Commissioners agreed with Schermetzler and Brubaker said he would inform his board.
As for the name change itself, Brubaker is ready to start marketing it and the airport board is on board.
During the airport board’s meeting, board members agreed a name that focuses on the geographic location of the airport and is inclusive of the region in which it serves will help in recruitment efforts. The change in name has been a topic of discussion for several months among board members, elected officials, economic development entities and regional business leaders, the release stated. The airport has discussed the name change with these leaders and have sought their feedback.
Naming the airport, the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport focuses on a key benefit of the airport – its geographic location in the state and in the region, Wamsley said. Board members believe that the name change can only benefit economic development efforts in the region, a press release from the airport stated.
“This airport is in an excellent position to compete both regionally and nationally. We have land ready for development, we have robust airfield infrastructure, we have an unparalleled highway and rail system at our doorstep, and we support global industry in our community - but our brand is not recognized in the global marketplace,” Brubaker said in the release.
The process of developing a new brand and implementing changes to signage, the airport’s website, letterhead and other outward signs of the airport’s identity will take some time, but we will work swiftly to make these changes, the release stated.
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