Local officials celebrated the grand opening of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection federal inspection station Thursday morning at the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. The $2.5 million facility allows international flights to travel directly to the airport, rather than stopping at another airport to clear customs before flying to Montgomery County. Montgomery County Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said its addition will benefit business and corporate travelers and helps county officials attract new businesses and corporations to the area. "This opens the door for all of our international companies to travel straight to Montgomery County," Meador said. "It is a huge economic development tool for us."

Coupled with a 1,500-foot extension to the airport's runway last year, the additional amenities make the county more competitive with other high-growth Houston regions, such as Sugar Land, which provides similar services at its Sugar Land Regional Airport, airport Director Scott Smith said. The Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport now features a runway of 7,500 feet.

"It makes the area more attractive for companies thinking of relocating here or [considering] building something new," Smith said. Additionally, officials are evaluating their future goals for the airport in a new 20-year master plan this year. Smith said the plan will be completed in January 2017. Draft documents are available at the airport's website at www.cxo.airportstudy.com for public review and comment.

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport

10260 Carl Pickering Memorial Drive, Conroe 936-788-8311 www.lonestarairport.org