Milwaukee County Pursuing Federal Funding to Advance Economic Development Project at Mitchell International Airport

MILWAUKEE – County Executive David Crowley is highlighting efforts to secure federal funding for a new international terminal development at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport that will boost economic growth, tourism, and opportunity throughout the region.

Mitchell International Airport is pursuing federal funding through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminals Program. This federal grant would facilitate the redevelopment of Mitchell International’s E Concourse into a new international terminal, a project critical for accommodating international air service, ensuring operational safety, and fostering regional economic growth.

On Friday, County Executive Crowley was joined by local leaders, partners, and supporters to urge the federal government to approve funding for this important economic development project.

“A redeveloped international concourse at Mitchell International Airport is important for the future of our regional economy. We know that federal funding is critical for this economic development project to move forward,” said County Executive Crowley. “I am proud of Milwaukee County’s strong partnership with the federal government, and it’s my hope that we receive these funds to enhance the Airport’s competitiveness, making it a more attractive option for airlines, businesses, and travelers, thereby supporting the region’s and state’s economic vitality. By making this project a reality, we will create jobs, open a new front door for visitors to our community, and provide major benefits to Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin for years to come.”

The redevelopment of the E Concourse would replace two aging buildings with a state-of-the-art facility designed to accommodate the increasing number of passengers. The current International Arrival Building is outdated, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns. This grant would enable Milwaukee County to replace the existing E Concourse with a modern, two-gate facility that eliminates safety and efficiency issues, allows aircrafts to remain at the gate for subsequent departures, meets security standards, and enables expansion opportunities.

“This project allows us to right-size two aging facilities into a new modern, energy-efficient building that can be expanded as passenger and aircraft traffic grows,” Airport Director Brian Dranzik said. “The requested funding would allow us to move forward with construction in 2025.”

All major design work for the redevelopment of Concourse E is complete. It became ready for construction in 2020, but was put on hold due to the pandemic. The project remains shovel-ready. However, without this federal funding, the project cannot move forward, which will have a profound and lasting impact on the state’s economic landscape.

The project and grant submission have earned bipartisan support from elected officials in Wisconsin, as well as from stakeholders throughout the community.

“Our region is home to a number of businesses headquartered in locations around the globe. Conversely, many locally headquartered companies are doing much of their business overseas,” said Dale Kooyenga, President, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. “Ease of travel in and out of Milwaukee is important to these organizations. It also serves as a factor in our region’s economic growth and competitiveness. We appreciate and support the efforts of local and federal leadership in bringing a new international terminal to our hometown airport.”

“The overall airport experience is vitally important to meeting planners and leisure visitors alike, and this grant would help keep Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport’s offerings some of the best in its class. The more nonstop routes we have and the better that overall experience becomes, the more convention business we can secure. And the more convention business we secure, the more we are supporting the recently expanded Baird Center, whose success creates a ripple effect across our tourism and hospitality industry, which supports over 27,000 jobs in Milwaukee County and generated over $2.3 billion in the County alone in 2023,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, President and CEO, Visit Milwaukee.

“At the Wisconsin Center District, we understand the crucial impact that Mitchell International Airport has on our region’s competitiveness in attracting conventions and tourism. Supporting the construction of a new international terminal is an investment in our collective future, enabling us to host larger events, welcome more visitors, and ultimately stimulate economic growth. This expansion will enhance our connectivity and reinforce Milwaukee as a premier destination for business and leisure, benefiting the local economy and enhancing our community’s vibrancy,” said Marty Brooks, President and CEO, Wisconsin Center District.

“The international terminal project at Mitchell International Airport will create good-paying, family-supporting jobs in the construction trades that will benefit the union workers and contractors we represent. It would be a wise decision for the federal government to invest in this project,” said Andrew Disch, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. “We commend County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee County for leading the way on this effort to grow our economy and support organized labor in Wisconsin.”

As Wisconsin’s largest transportation asset, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport generates $3 billion in economic activity. It supports nearly 26,000 jobs with roughly $900 million in earnings, while visitors generate substantial state and local tax revenues.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.