WS Chronicle

At the regular Dec. 19 meeting of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority board, the board voted to begin the process of changing the name of the Piedmont Triad International Airport, based in Greensboro, to the Central North Carolina International Airport, the board announced.

“Changing the name of the airport is a big step. We do not take that lightly,” Airport Authority Chairman Steve Showfety said after the meeting. “But it is an important step. We need a brand that is recognized around the world, because we are competing around the world.”

Officials said naming the airport the Central North Carolina International Airport focuses on a key benefit of the airport – its central location in the state and on the East Coast. Authority members believe putting that benefit out front will help in economic development efforts.

During the board’s meeting, Authority members agreed that a name that focuses on the geographic location of the airport will help in industrial recruitment.

The change in name has been a topic of discussion for several months among Airport Authority members, elected officials, economic development professionals and regional business leaders, Showfety said. Board members have discussed the name change with these leaders and have sought their feedback.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Showfety said. “The community appears to be ready for a change.”

Jessica Mensch of WFMY-TV talked to some of those leaders.

“When I talk to people across the country, they don’t know what the ‘Piedmont Triad’ is,” said Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan. “This will be much more self-explanatory.”

“Here at the airport we have almost 1,000 acres that can be developed around the airport. So as we’re working to attract companies to this region, I think this name will help them understand where they are coming to or where they could be looking for new opportunities,” said Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.

Some media reports say the name change took effect on Jan. 1, 2018, but there was no mention of an effective date in the airport board’s announcement and that fact could not be confirmed before Chronicle press deadline.

Kevin Baker, the airport’s executive director, said there will be no immediate impact from the board’s action for the public. 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 several months to develop.

“Once we have developed a new look, we will roll it out for the public to see and understand,” Baker said. “Planning and executing the name change will take time. We want to create as little confusion as possible.”

“The airport is an important employer in central North Carolina,” Showfety said. “This new branding will help it continue to grow and provide jobs for our communities.”