The Yarmouth Airport wants to grow.

Money from Ottawa and the province will help them develop a plan targeting aerospace, defense and private industry.

Greg Shay is the CEO of the Yarmouth International Airport Corporation, and says the airport has great potential.

“It’s been underutilized. We have a facility here that’s real, it’s operational, and it gives us a great head start to go down these roads of opportunity,” said Shay.

He says this will help create a roadmap for regional prosperity.

Acadie-Annapolis MP Chris d’Entremont announced over $56,000 in funding, Nova Scotia will contribute $15,000.

d’Entremont says the airport is important to the area.

“This is a great piece of infrastructure that we’ve had for years, that we’ve been trying to find a responsibility for. It’s a big piece of property, there’s an opportunity for technology here for the federal government, and see if we can pull in some new jobs that aren’t traditionally here in southwestern Nova Scotia,” said d’Entremont.

The announcement was made Monday, along with funding for Th’YARC and the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Association.