Redesign Includes The Creation Of New Air Cargo Receiving And Distribution Center And General Aviation Customs Facility

Plattsburgh International Airport will receive $38 million through Round Two of the New York Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition to jumpstart the airport’s $43 million overhaul of the North Country aviation gateway.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the project as part of his series of "State of the State" speeches across New York State. This project, which will take the currently underutilized former military facility and transform it into a state of the art transportation and economic development hub, will create 825 construction jobs throughout its duration.

“Transportation infrastructure is the bedrock of our economy and with these critical upgrades at the Plattsburgh International Airport, we are ensuring the North Country’s long-term economic prosperity for generations to come,” Governor Cuomo said. “This investment is about creating jobs and giving this region the transit hub it needs to thrive in a 21st century economy. We will continue investing in these critical projects to build for the future and make our upstate economies more competitive than ever before.”

To remain competitive in today’s global economy, New York must reimagine and rebuild the gateways to this state and given its physical characteristics and its geographic location, a revitalized Plattsburgh International Airport has the potential to be a key economic driver for the North Country. While the airport’s $43 million re-imagination takes steps to improve passenger experience by increasing capacity and adding new retail and concession options, the most impactful components of this plan revolve around modernizing the facility to support the growing transportation equipment and aerospace industry in and around Plattsburgh and the entire North Country region.

The construction of a new air cargo receiving and distribution center will allow existing manufacturers to transport their own materials, create jobs, and attract new companies to the region. Additionally, the establishment of a new general aviation customs facility will expand international connectivity and allow foreign aircraft to use the North Country airport as a base of operations. A new multimodal facility will also improve mobility options for passengers and employees alike.

Governor Cuomo first launched the $200 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, which first launched in 2016. In Round One, $40 million was awarded to Elmira Corning Regional Airport to activate the airport's $58 million transformation, and $39.8 million in funding was awarded to the Greater Rochester International Airport to activate a $63.4 million transformation.

The competition includes $190 million to support airport projects, in addition to $10 million allocated through the Governor’s Aviation Capital Grant Program, which supports safety, infrastructure, and economic development projects at smaller airports across the State. This plan builds upon the success of Governor Cuomo’s Master Plan Design Competition for LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airports, as well as the transformative efforts already underway Downstate.

(Source: Governor Andrew Cuomo news release. Images from project documentation)

FMI: www.governor.ny.gov