UTICA -- Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced some exciting news for the area.

During his State of the County address Tuesday morning, Picente told the crowd new flights could be coming to Griffiss. The facility is a former air force base. Picente says Allegiant Air is strongly considering direct flights from Rome to Florida. Picente says the airline looked at Rome and saw the growth potential there. He says the addition could help attract jobs to the area.

The flights would be a few days a week. If everything goes as planned, they could start this September.

Picente also announced he will ask the Oneida County Legislature to rename the Sheriff's Department Law Enforcement Building. Picente wants the building to be named after Deputy Kurt Wyman. Wyman was killed in the line of duty during a standoff last summer.