BC Regional Airport Hopeful FAA Funding Will Bring New Terminal

Manager Judy McCutchen says chances for new terminal funding are good.

At the February board meeting of the Boone County Regional Airport board members heard an update on a couple of large funding opportunities the airport hopes to take advantage of.

The first of which is $295,000 per year for five years that came as a result of the federal infrastructure bill passed by congress in 2021. Airport Manager Judy McCutchen said the FAA hasn’t specified what that funding can and cannot be used for yet and says it could be a few more months before they do.

One of the major projects the airport hopes to receive funding for is to build a brand-new terminal. The current terminal was constructed in 1967 and has had little renovation since then. McCutchen says a new terminal would cost about $3.1 million, and she hopes that another grant source from the FAA will cover it.

The airport will apply for a portion of $5 billion dollars in grant money being allotted for airports across the country. McCutchen says they will receive the application sometime this month and after that they may have to get political.

“I think once we submit the notice of intent of funding, and present our case, then I think in our best interest we’re going to have to get a little bit political,” she said, “We’re going to have to contact our congressman and senator saying we need a new terminal. Ours was built in 1967 and it’s still the same terminal.”

When asked what kind of chance they stand at receiving the funding she says, “I think our chances are good. I feel like we’re going to get this, we just got to play our cards right. But I feel like we’re going to get it. I’m going to be very disappointed if we don’t.”

For now, the airport continues to work on building a new box hangar and installing a new self-service fuel tank.