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17.2M first installment will buy land for the new facility

By Mark Havnes
The Salt Lake Tribune

ST. GEORGE - Plans for a new airport for this southwestern Utah community soared higher recently when the project received a $17.2-million federal grant.
Delivering the cash was Marion Blakey. The Federal Aviation Administration administrator praised the dignitaries, gathered for a ceremony at the current St. George Municipal Airport, for their perseverance.
"There's one word on everyone's lips, and that is 'finally,' " Blakey said to applause from the attendees, many of whom have worked on the project since it was first proposed more than 10 years ago.
The money is the first installment of federal dollars and will be used to acquire 227 of the 1,300 acres necessary to build the $182 million facility five miles southeast of downtown.
"Big plans require big money," said Blakey. "This is about economic development and connections necessary for communities to thrive. You deserve what others have enjoyed for decades."
The new airport is scheduled to be completed by 2011, but St. George Mayor Daniel McArthur told the 200 people at the ceremony that he hopes to see a SkyWest jet lift off from the new airport in four years.
In an interview after her remarks, Blakey said it is rare to build an airport from scratch. She cited the Denver airport as the last one she could recall in the past 10 years.
She said the federal government will contribute money according to a plan that requires matching dollars from the city.
The financial split has not been worked out yet, but Blakey said federal money could pay for at least half the cost.
McArthur, said a financial plan is being drawn up, and a design team to plan the airport will be assembled.
He said the city's share of money will come from airline fees, federal grants and sale of the 288 acres the current airport occupies on a volcanic bluff overlooking the city of 160,000 residents.
He expects about $30 million from sale of the land, and he promised: "We will not raise taxes to build the airport."
SkyWest CEO Jerry Atkin said the new airport will provide much-needed facilities for his St. George-based airline.
He predicted that being able to land the airline's larger jets will increase passenger traffic, which currently tops 32 million passengers a year.
Second District Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, praised the perseverance of McArthur, who, he said, lobbied him - even before St. George was added to his district.
"Things have worked out now, and we all have to stay on the same page," said Matheson.