After approaching the FAA in 2013, in response to the FAA’s request to secure the necessary funding, the airport set forth to address any airside improvements that needed to be immediately addressed. “We concentrated on anything pavement-wise that needed to be upgraded and we did any lighting projects that needed to be completed within the next couple of years,” Beseau recalls. In 2019, Beseau approached the FAA again and said,“Come take a look. We believe all of our airside improvements have been upgraded and they agreed.” With an initial budget of close to $5 million provided by the FAA and additional local funding of $1.5 million through COVID due to escalating construction costs, the impressive new terminal was completed in 2022. “The building is about 10,000 square feet and is a one-and-a-half-story building.” Aiming to incorporate the airport’s long and distinguished history and military roots was an important aspect, Beseau points out, that is reflected in the aesthetics of the new terminal building. “First of all we wanted to make it very pleasant for people who are flying in and then we included a lot of the history throughout the building,” Beseau says. “We are a port of entry airport and customs is not on site, but they will come and clear airplanes so part of what we wanted to do is also make it comfortable for the passengers with a room within the terminal, international seating where they are allowed to then get off the airplane and go into that area. The international seating area includes a restroom and a television for passenger entertainment and although they can not bring any luggage with them it keeps them segregated from the other passengers until customs can arrive. “This represents an important amenity for our international travelers.” The new terminal also included LED lighting and was built to be energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing for the weary traveler, Beseau points out. ECONOMIC TIES TO THE REGION Several years after the Air Force Base closed its doors in 1977 the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation was formed with the primary intent to provide an economic direction for the airport. “The EDC was formed to try to fill that economic void that was gone and we were trying to look at the vision for the industrial park at the airport and 120 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 01
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx