July 13, 2011 - Despite the efforts and attempts of local politicians to close the Huron County OH Airport, a business comes to the aid of the airport support organization. Angela Phillips, President-CEO, of Phillips Manufacturing recently donated $10,000.00 to a local Ohio airport support group, Friends of the Huron County Airport. 

The donation along with other proceeds will be used by the support group to help meet the 5% matching funds which are required to obtain available federal grant money for needed safety improvements at the Huron County Ohio Airport.  

Ms Phillips, a strong supporter of aviation, uses their company?s Beech craft Baron 58 (a multi engine aircraft) to travel across country, and conduct business on behalf of the divisions she represents. 

Ms Phillips stated: ?Time is money. As a business woman, one of the first criteria we look at in an area is the location, and condition of the local general aviation airport facility.

?Through the use of general aviation airports, we can conduct business with our customers and suppliers in a timely fashion, based on our schedules, and not have to worry about the issues, or time constraints surrounding commercial air travel. The Huron County Airport, which we have used on numerous occasions in the course of our business, is such an airport facility worth maintaining, and saving?. 

Phillips Manufacturing is comprised of three divisions, Middletown Tube Works, Middletown, OH; Shelby Welded Tube, Shelby OH; and Dothan Tubular Products, Dothan, AL. 

The companies manufacture and deliver welded steel tubing for use in Aerospace, IBC packing, Trailer components, Filler and overflow tubes for fuel tanks, HVAC heat and corrosion resistant heat exchangers, Appliance burner and manifold systems, Dash panel support assemblies, Hydro formed door handles, Motorcycle exhaust systems, and Wiper brackets. 

Their products are shipped throughout the US, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The company was initially founded by Angela's father, Ralph H. Phillips, who also used general aviation to expand his business enterprise to its present day position.

In addition, Bill & Sue Oberli, Aerial Farming Services, donated $1,000.00 to the Friends organization for the same purpose.  Mr. Oberli based his two aircraft at the Huron County Airport, and working with the local Sunrise Co-op, fertilized over 13,000 Acres of Huron/Lorain county farm land over a three week period during May 2011. Mr Oberli conducted based his local aerial fertilizing operations at the Huron County Airport during the summer of 2010, and expects to return later this summer for additional aerial fertilizing work. 

The Friends' organization intends on offering a donation back to the Huron County Airport Authority to get available federal grant money, at no cost to the county. Each $7500 raised and donated equates to $150,000 of federal grant money. For 2011, the airport has $600,000 of banked available federal grant money, depending on how much matching funds are raised. The airport must use at least $150,000 in 2011, or that money will be lost to the area, and transferred to another airport facility.