Iron County is looking at building a new private airport to attract corporations
IRON COUNTY -- As the U.P. struggles to recover economically, many communities are looking for new ways to create jobs.
One way is to bring in new businesses and make the community more attractive, which Iron County is looking to do through the air.
Last week, the Economic Development Corporation proposed to the Board of Commissioners that a new, larger private airport be built in the area. The current air strips are old, small, and in need of major repairs.
"Stambough Airport is limited to single engine operations only because of the length of the airfield,” said Iron County Airport Manager Krist Atanasoff. “You start getting into multi-engine aircrafts like King Airs and light jets; they have to go other places."
Stambough is one of two private airports in Iron County, but both are small and in need of major repairs. So the Iron County Economic Development Corporation has proposed building a new private airport. The move would create temporary jobs and help bring in new corporations to the area.
"Some of our developers are coming in and out now, and some of the people that have been looking at possible locations for their business and other projects,” said Economic Development Director Julie Melchiori. “An airport is very important for a community to be able to capture economic benefits."
Ninety to 95 percent of the cost of a new airport would likely be covered by state and federal funding. Airports in Crystal Falls and Stambough Township are not eligible for funding because of their proximity to Ford Airport in Iron Mountain and lack of space to expand respectively.
Melchiori said given Iron County's distance from Ford Airport, a new private airport could be an essential part of the area's economic recovery.
"Being our county is as large as it is, the time factor from that facility to the far ends of our county are significant,” Melchiori said. “We're competing with other communities, and we'd like to be able to compete on an even basis."
The future of the project hinges on the approval of the Iron County Board of Commissioners.
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