Airport may get funding

The Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport will continue to pursue Federal Administration Aviation funding to complete the commercial terminal upgrades.

During the Sweetwater County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, the Commissioners unanimously approved a motion supporting the commercial terminal project and the roughly $172,000 needed to match funding the airport may receive from the FAA.

Airport Manager Devon Brubaker said the FAA gave the airport a list of items it can do to place itself in a better position to receive funding and was also notified that it had moved up the list 127 spots since he spoke to them last time.

Brubaker then received a request from WYDOT and the FAA to complete a survey about the proposed project and if funding would be ready should the airport be given the supplemental funding.

Brubaker said it doesn’t look like much, but he gets the feeling that based on how he answers could determine how much and when the airport will receive funding.

“Let me be clear, we’re not here asking for a check,” Brubaker said.

He said he’s only asking for both the county and the city of Rock Springs to be ready should funding be needed quickly.

“They won’t wait around, they’ll just move on down the list,” Brubaker said.

The total cost of the project is $18 million and Brubaker believes he can secure $3 million from the Wyoming Business Council, $3 million from WYDOT, the rest will come from the FAA and local contributions from the city of Rock Springs and the county.

Commissioner Jeffrey Smith said to him it was a no-brainer decision.

They have the opportunity to complete an $18 million project for $172,000.

Commissioner Roy Lloyd said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to commit to future projects when he doesn’t know what the financial future of the county will be.

Brubaker said the commission will always have the opportunity to say no. He said even if he receives the funding, but it’s not at the level they thought it would be, the county can decide not to approve it.