Daily Inter Lake: Feds grant airport expansion project another $2.8 million

Glacier Park International Airport has received $2.8 million to put toward its ongoing terminal renovation and expansion project. 

Airport Director Rob Ratkowski said the money would go toward phase two of the project to expand baggage claim and the second-floor gate area as well as construct a new gate. 

Phase one, which is still underway, focuses on renovation at the front of the building including the ticketing area and construction of a terminal center. That phase of the project is expected to be finished in May 2025 and full completion of the airport project is expected in early summer 2026, Ratkowski said.  

The sum was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Program, which was created and funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  

“The Flathead Valley is one of our state’s fastest growing areas, and Glacier Park International Airport needs to have the necessary infrastructure to meet growing demand and ensure Montanans can see their families and friends, run their businesses and stay connected with the rest of the country,” said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a statement.  

A Democrat, Tester was a prominent supporter of the $1.2 trillion legislation before President Joe Biden signed it into law in 2021. He was the sole member of Montana’s congressional delegation to vote for the infrastructure bill. 

Tester remains an advocate for the act and, according to a statement from a spokesperson for his office, has written letters advocating for several projects at the Flathead Valley airport to ensure rural airports receive access to funding.   

Another $2.8 million was awarded to the airport through the infrastructure law in February of this year and $6 million in March. 

Two programs supported by the act are funding work at the airport. Granted in 2022, Glacier Park International Airport was set to receive $14.5 million over five years from the FAA Airport Improvement Program.  

The FAA Airport Terminal Program is awarding $10.1 million over five years but the airport is eligible to receive additional dollars, according to Tester’s office. Ratkowski said they are currently in the third year of the program and are applying for another round of funding.  

“We’re putting in our application for round four, and so it will remain to be seen if we’re successful in that round of funding or not,” said Ratkowski. 

Ratkowski said that expanded space is needed to keep up with growth in traffic at the airport.  

“We are very excited to deliver this project to the community,” he said, “We’re just thrilled that this facility is going to represent the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana when we’re done.”