Now that Southwestern Indiana’s Regional Cities Initiative funding has been secured, Evansville Regional Airport is moving forward with its part of the plan.
Last week, Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation that includes a full $42 million in Regional Cities funding for all three winning regions, including Southwestern Indiana.
The region’s plan centers on 12 projects in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey and Gibson counties, including a major renovation at Evansville Regional Airport.
The airport project includes terminal renovations, relocation of the passenger security area and other updates.
Executive Director Doug Joest said the airport has already begun the process of seeking architectural and design firms for the project.
The airport has issued invitations for architectural and design firms to submit their credentials for doing the project.
After the April 15 response deadline, the airport will select the firm or firms it deems best qualified for the project, Joest said.
The airport is in line to receive $5 million in Regional Cities funding. Joest said the estimated total project cost is $10 million, though it might be a little more or less than that.
“We haven’t designed it yet, and we haven’t put it out for bids,” Joest said after the airport’s monthly board meeting Monday.
It will be up to the airport to make up the difference between the Regional Cities money and the total project cost. Joest said the airport will likely borrow that amount.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
■ The airport shared its latest statistics on enplanements — the number of people who boarded a plane at the airport. The airport saw 13,991 enplanements in February, up slightly from 13,971 in February 2015.
For the year to date, enplanements dropped slightly. So far this year, the airport has seen 28,352 enplanements, as compared with 28,570 during the same period last year.
But, the airport said, last year presented a tough comparison, because at this point in 2015 enplanements were up 20 percent from the year before.
■ The airport’s board approved spending $30,000 on a boarding ramp for the new Allegiant Air flights that will begin service at Evansville June 2.
The twice-a-week Allegiant flights won’t use the standard jetbridges that other planes use, Joest said. Instead, passengers will walk outdoors and access the planes using the boarding ramps. The zigzag-style ramps will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, airport officials said.