Funding for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection facility at the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport has increased with support from The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership.

The $2.6 million facility would allow aircraft landing at the airport to clear customs after an international flight. The facility is being built through a partnership between Montgomery County, the Conroe Industrial Development Corporation and Black Forest Ventures. The Woodlands EDP will donate $50,000 for information technology, CEO Gil Staley said.

Staley said the funds are being donated after several major companies expressed support for the facility.

“I have letters from our major employers—two specific employers that are among our top employers—who said they support this,” Staley said. “More importantly, [they said] that they would never entertain bringing their aircraft to [the airport] unless there was a U.S. Customs facility.”

The facility is one of several initiatives planned at the airport. Formerly named the Lone Star Executive Airport, the facility changed its name Oct. 1.

Executive Director Scott Smith said the changes are a part of a greater vision for the future of the airport.

“Aviation is a part of the business world. So we want to be equipped to meet whatever demand is coming our way,” Smith said.

The customs facility is expected to be complete by mid-April, he said.