by Dennis Dalman
Minnesota’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, brought a “gift” to the St. Cloud Regional Airport on April 10.
At a press conference at the airport, they announced that $495,000 in federal funding will be given to the airport for improvements. That funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which both Smith and Klobuchar strongly favored and helped approve in the U.S. Senate.
The $495,000 is part of a $20 million annual amount available nationwide through the year 2026 for small-town and municipal airports to improve such equipment as control towers, non-approach remote-control towers, air-traffic control systems and more.
“Investments in our airport infrastructure serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state,” Klobuchar said. “By enabling the replacement of outdated equipment, this federal funding will help boost efficiency and improve safety for travelers at the St. Cloud Regional Airport.”
Smith said the funding would make the airport safer and more efficient.
“I’m excited to see this law making an impact and will keep pressing for opportunities to improve our state’s infrastructure,” she added.
“This grant will allow us to replace the radio equipment in the air-traffic control tower that is no longer supported by the manufacturer,” said Brian Myres, the board chair for the St. Cloud Regional Airport. “Aircraft rely on communication with the tower to safely enter and exit the airspace without incident.”
Among those who gathered at the airport to hear and to thank Klobuchar and Smith were commissioners from three area counties (Benton, Sherburne and Stearns), county administrators and airport board members. From Stearns County, those who attended the gathering were County Board Chair Joe Perske, vice chair Tarryl Clark and county administrator Michael Williams. From Benton County, the attendees were Board Chair Scott Johnson, commissioners Ed Popp, Steve Heinen and Beth Schlangen, as well as Montgomery Headley, the county administrator.
