Dayton Administration worked with the Minnesota Legislature to secure a total of $5.2 million for Phase One and Two of the project
ST. PAUL, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith joined local officials today to celebrate the completion of Phase One of the Falls International Airport terminal building. The Dayton Administration secured $2.2 million in the 2014 public works bills for Phase One of the terminal project. An additional $6.6 million in matching state, local, and federal funds was used to complete the work.
“The new Falls International Airport terminal will support additional trade and business travel, which is essential to growing our economy and creating good jobs everywhere in Minnesota,” said Lt. Governor Smith. “I thank Sen. Bakk, Rep. Ecklund, and the Minnesota Legislature for including funding for this project in the 2014 public works bill. It is a testament to the legacy of former Rep. David Dill, who was a long-time champion of this airport and community.”
During the first phase, new check-in ticketing counters and kiosks, a secured gate lounge, a passenger boarding bridge, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening area, and public lobby were added. The additional features will ensure that International Falls and Koochiching County remain a critical hub for transnational commerce and economic development.
“Falls International Airport is critically important for our local and regional economies,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund. “I thank Lt. Governor Smith and Governor Dayton for their strong support of the project. It will have a tremendous and lasting impact on area businesses and residents for years to come.”
During the 2017 Legislative Session, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith secured an
additional $3 million for Phase Two to complete the terminal project. In the next phase of construction, additional space for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, a National Weather Service office, and the TSA will be added. That project is expected to be completed in 2019.
Statewide Importance of Falls International Airport
Falls International Airport is one of only four international airports in Minnesota. This status makes the airport an important hub for international commerce and travel. Completion of the terminal project is critical to ensuring that Falls International Airport can accommodate increased domestic and international passenger travel, increased business traffic, and additional U.S. Customs activities.
