The Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport continues to position itself as an economic linchpin in the Conroe area with completion of a runway extension last year and construction of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility.

The CBP facility will be completed by May, and following a 1,500-foot extension last March, the runway now measures 7,500 feet.

When combined with amenities available at the Conroe Park North industrial park and the Deison Technology Park, the initiatives are expected to make the area more palatable for corporations looking to conduct regional or international business in Montgomery County, airport Executive Director Mark Smith said.

Smith said the amenities also make the county competitive with other high-growth Houston regions, such as Sugar Land, which provides similar amenities at its Sugar Land Regional Airport.

“This will be a good choice for those that are looking for a location to set up local manufacturing, technology or even administrative functions for a company,” Smith said. “This area has a lot to offer, a stable workforce, changing demographics and easy access to surface transportation from an air transportation perspective.”

The airport will evaluate its future goals and needs by creating a new 20-year master plan by the end of the year, Smith said.