Business View Magazine | June 2019

174 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JUNE 2019 According to Hahn, funding for the terminal upgrade project comes from several different sources, which helps EVV in keeping airlines’ rates and charges competitive. “That makes them happy and it makes us happy,” he quips. “Four years ago, a multi-county group in the state of Indiana combined for multiple projects for regional cities, and put in a bid for approximately $42 million. Southwest Indiana was one of the regions selected and the Airport’s project was the gateway project in the SW Indiana package. So, of that $20 million for the terminal, five million came from that regional cities fund and some of the funding will come from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) because certain project elements are Airport Improvement Program (AIP) eligible. The airport was able to cover and finance the rest.” “On the airfield, we’ve been working on our west ramp remodel and associated drainage, and we’re close to being halfway complete,” Hahn adds. “Some of that ramp was from the 1940s, so it will be nice to complete that project over the next few years to also improve that front door to our community.” A few weeks ago, the Airport received another AIP grant of $8.9 million to support the ramp and drainage reconstruction project, which will prevent flooding and sinkhole development, and ensure unimpeded commercial operations. Another project recently completed at EVV was the addition of five jet bridges at a cost of approximately $7 million dollars. Hahn notes, “Jet bridges offer increased accessibility and protection from the weather, so they were a much needed and appreciated addition to our Airport.” Evansville Airport serves as an economic development engine for the region and that paradigm extends to other area airports. “In our immediate community, it’s not really competition,” says Hahn. “There’s only one commercial airport. Mt. Vernon, Illinois has a general aviation airport; Huntingburg, just north of us, has a general aviation airport; Henderson, to the south of us, has a general aviation airport. So, from a corporate or general aviation standpoint, each of those serves their purposes for their communities. But we consider ourselves the economic development