Senators Klobuchar and Smith Celebrate St. Cloud Airport Grant

(KNSI) – Both of Minnesota’s United States senators were on hand Monday at the St. Cloud Regional Airport to announce a $495,000 grant to improve air traffic communications equipment at the facility.

They noted that St. Cloud is classified as a small airport, one of 256 in the country. Senator Tina Smith says a lot of them applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for funds, and getting an award speaks to the importance of our local airport.

“It comes first from having a very good project, a good airport, good management, good support from the local community. And then it really helps to have Senator Klobuchar and I giving validation to the project. I have to say that these are not politically awarded projects, though.”

Commercial airlines, general aircraft, medical helicopters, military aircraft, and more all use the facility. The radio equipment has to be able to talk to all of them.

Senator Amy Klobuchar says Minnesota’s economy is decentralized. Cirrus Aircraft is in Duluth. Hormel Foods is in the southern part of the state. St. Cloud has several manufacturing headquarters in the area. Something has to tie it all together.

“When you look at the state itself and how many companies we have that aren’t just located in the Twin Cities. To make that work, you’ve got to have strong airports and that’s what brought Tina and I here together.”

Klobuchar says the airport improvements are just a piece of a broad-based infrastructure policy for central Minnesota. It also focuses on roads, bridges, and the Mississippi River.

This season was another good one for commercial flights. The average plane going to Arizona or Florida was over 90% full. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says Allegiant Air is taking notice.

“It also tells the airlines, look at more options. Let’s look at maybe adding an additional flight to another destination…Las Vegas, and I know that’s one of the prime spots that people like to go especially during the winter. California, Washington DC…so, there’s an opportunity.”

Joining the senators were members of the Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns County Board of Commissioners, the regional airport authority, and state officials like Representative Dan Wolgamott.

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