Airport to receive funding for commercial terminal

The Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport will receive funding for commercial terminal upgrades.

During the Sweetwater County commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, airport director Devon Brubaker said he had received confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration that the airport’s project will receive funding. 

According to Brubaker, the airport will be given about $9 million in federal funding, $3.4 million from the Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics and $3 million from the Wyoming Business Council. The remaining $2.9 million the county will need to come up with.

“I’m fairly excited about that,” Brubaker said.

He said last time the number the county was given, had the county being responsible for around $6 million. To only have to pay $3 million to compete an $18-million dollar project is a win for the county, he said.

“That’s a good deal,” Brubaker said.

Commission chairman Wally Johnson asked Brubaker where he was going to get the $3 million to pay for the county’s portion of the project. Brubaker said he’s already approached the city of Rock Springs and asked for it to be a part of the sixth-penny tax request. He said Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo thought it was a good idea to include it in the request.

Johnson cautioned Brubaker on making deals with the mayor. He said he needs to make sure the entire city Council is aware of the request. Brubaker said he spoke to the Council at least twice about how he wanted to fund the county’s portion.

A full design of the project will take place in the spring and construction should start in 2022.