MT. PLEASANT — More upgrades are headed to the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport to provide increased safety to users.
The airport is soaring to new heights bringing millions into the community while preparing for its next round of improvements.
MDOT’s economic impact study says the airport generates 7.5 million dollars of economic impact.
Airport manager Bill Brickner said those dollars go far beyond the city limits.
“The economic impact actually has a ripple effect from the city of Mt. Pleasant, out to the county, out to the state, out to the nation. So, as you go out, obviously that number increases. Some of the jets that we have based here may not be able to get work done right here in the city of Mt. Pleasant. They may have to go someplace else in the state or someplace else in the country to get some of the maintenance done.”
The airport sees 5,000 flights per year including hundreds of corporate jets, agricultural planes and charted flights for Central Michigan University sporting events.
This year the airport was reclassified as a regional airport.
“The benefit of being a regional airport allows us access to additional grant funding from the federal government and from the state government,” said Brickner.
With safety in mind they already have an outline for what projects they will begin working on next.
“The next project is going to be a rehab on the runway, which is just over $3 million. One of the other projects that we’re working on is getting some snow removal equipment,” said Brickner.
Here’s a breakdown of where the money comes from.
“That money is actually coming from the bipartisan infrastructure law, and that is a 95% federal government grant and a 5% state grant. So that actually has no local match for us,” said Brickner.
Previously the airport invested 2.7 million on repaved taxiways, LED lights and upgraded signage.