Erie Municipal Airport to Get Needed Update

Wanting to generate additional new activity and revenue at the Erie Municipal Airport, in 2021 the Town of Erie established the Erie Airport Economic Development Advisory Board (AEDAB).

The AEDAB, working with Economic Development Director and staff liaison Julian Jacquin, advised the Town that the terminal building (built in the late 1970s) was reaching the end of its effective use and should be strongly considered for an update. Under the direction of Public Works Director, Todd Fessenden, Wold Architects and Engineers performed a facility condition assessment in 2021. The report recommended extensive renovations to the hanger structure plus the removal and replacement of the administration area of the building which was added to the hanger in the late 1970s. The study estimated the architectural and engineering cost for this process would be about $300,000 - $350,000. 

Town staff presented this information to the AEDAB and the Board of Trustees, who asked staff to proceed with the design of a new terminal building. Costs to design the new terminal will be covered by several funding sources:

• $159,000 in the airport enterprise fund from 2021 FAA grants
• $68,000 from a past insurance weather-related damaged claim
• $159,000 from the FAA for 2022 American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) grants
• $8,833 from the State of Colorado Department of Transportation
• $8,834 local match from the Town of Erie

The Town Grants Manager, Stephanie Sanders, who helped secure the FAA/ARPA grant, has already started pursuing additional funding, including a new $3 million FAA Airport Terminal Program (ATP) grant to cover the construction costs of the new terminal building. Staff expects the FAA to announce awards of this grant in July 2022.

Visit the Erie Municipal Airport webpage to learn more.