Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority Chairwoman Lynn Devault and Secretary-Treasurer Lou Patten review airport terminal blueprints with architect Stephen Carroll in this file photo.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A Chattanooga construction company was awarded a $2.4 million contract Friday to build a terminal building.

The terminal is for the new airport expected to open late this year in the Tasso community.

The Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority awarded the contract to J&J Contractors from a field of seven "very competitive" bids, Airport Authority Vice Chairman Lou Patten said.

The terminal is being built partly with private donations. A professional fundraiser has been hired to seek donations.

"The city is, in effect, advancing us the money we need to raise privately and pay back," Airport Authority Chairwoman Lynn DeVault said.

The airport authority meeting discussed how to winnow the 24 resumes and applications received for the marketing director position.

The authority also scheduled a work session for May 14 at 5 p.m. to review hangar lease agreements with hangar owners and to settle other points as part of a business plan for the new airport.

"I feel we need to sit down and go over some of these again before I can vote to approve them," said LeRoy Rymer, an authority member.

Meanwhile, work is cranking up for the third phase of construction for the airport site, including the runway, consultant Mark Paslick of PDC Consultants said.

Tim Viser, a local pilot, said his survey shows 85 aircraft registered in Bradley County, but only 26 are based at the current airport at Hardwick Field.

"My hope is all these pilots will move to Cleveland Hardwick and support the new airport," he said.

"We believe the market for this [new] airport will be broader," said DeVault, including attracting more transient air traffic from industrial growth.