(Editor’s Note: The following article was procured from the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority).

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a new governance structure for the St. Cloud Regional Airport, transferring governance and all its assets from the City of St. Cloud to the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority. The authority was formed through a joint resolution with the City of St. Cloud, Benton County, Sherburne County, and Stearns County, with each entity appointing volunteer Commissioners to the Authority.

“The St. Cloud Airport has played a significant role in the economic development and growth for the City of St. Cloud for over 50 years. Now, as a Regional Airport Authority, the St. Cloud Regional Airport will benefit all of Central Minnesota with a broader, regional focus and the ability to continue to grow and adapt to new transportation opportunities well into the future,” said St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis.

The St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority was created after much study as a fiscally responsible plan to develop the full potential of aviation and provide the most economical and effective use of the aeronautic facilities and services in central Minnesota. “The St. Cloud Regional Airport is truly a regional facility,” said St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority Board Chair Brian Myres. “The creation of the Authority provides a structure that allows for representatives from the central Minnesota region to participate in its management and growth,” continued Myres.

The transfer to an authority creates an independent governing structure with a board whose sole purpose is the daily operation and future development of the airport, which helps support greater levels of economic development and proactive commercial revenue development, a stronger regional focus to respond to air service needs, and a more entrepreneurial and business focus driven by customer service excellence.

“Our transition agreement from the city to the authority provides City of St. Cloud support for a number of functions at the airport for up to 10 years. Additionally, the airport will continue to receive the voter-approved dedicated regional sales tax dollars through 2038,” continued Myres.

The volunteer commissioners were appointed by their respective jurisdictions at the beginning of 2021 and have been busy with the work of forming a new entity for the past year. With the transfer of governance, they now take on the airport operations work. “We are excited to take the St. Cloud Regional Airport, a truly regional asset for central Minnesota, to new heights,” concluded Myres.