City and county leaders got together Friday to dedicate a $600,000 terminal renovation at LaGrange-Callaway Airport.

The terminal, which hadn’t been upgraded since it was built in 1987, got a new roof, handicapped-accessible restrooms, a glass-enclosed addition to give employees a better view of the main runway and fuel farm, and a portico where people can be dropped off and picked up.

“The airport is a very important part of the community,” airport authority Chairman Charlie Browne told the crowd. “”We’re very fortunate to have the support of the city and county governments. A lot of counties don’t have that support.”

He said an airport can help recruit new industry because it’s often the first thing company executives see.

“We have one of the finest airports in the state,” Browne said. “We’re not quite as big as Hartsfield, but we’re working on it.”

With Kia Motors and major suppliers about to start production in Troup County, there’s no telling what the airport will look like in 50 years, said Troup County Commission Chairman Ricky Wolfe, adding, “We can’t survive without healthy airport and a healthy airport authority.”

The terminal is named for Thomas W. Sheffield, who was the authority’s first chairman and helped get the airport started.

Daniel Construction Co. in LaGrange performed the renovations, which were financed by the county government, airport authority and a $100,000 grant from the Callaway Foundation.

The county road department paved the portico, and inmates did some of the interior work.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartinlagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.