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Building & Construction
Sioux City leverages longstanding airport to spur new economic growth By MARY JANE BOGLE | The Municipal
Sioux City, Iowa, has a long history of aviation excellence. With a well-maintained airport and runway — dating all the way back to World War II — along with a Federal Aviation Administration flight tower and the presence of the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard, this community knows a thing or two about the aviation industry. Recently, the Sioux City community came together to leverage that experience and infrastructure to make a bid for federal grant money, an investment that would help them build a $7 million to $9 million hangar facility on city-owned land at Sioux Gateway Airport. The $1 million grant it has received from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration will help fund the new 39,400-square-foot aviation center, complete with a fully accredited flight school, two hangar bays and two stories of office/training space. In addition, the project is slated to create 42 new skilled jobs in the short-term and grow the entire aviation culture in the area well into the future. “This project is a great example of a public-private partnership,” said Assistant City Manager Mike Collett. 48 THE MUNICIPAL | JANUARY 2022
Over two years in the making, the project brings together city government, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, Oracle Aviation, Morningside University and other educational institutions in the area. “We were so pleased to receive this grant,” said Economic and Community Development Director Marty Dougherty, citing the diversification of the local economy, the creation of higher skilled jobs and investment in an industry important to the region as key components that made Sioux City’s grant application so competitive. “Sioux City has had an airport since World War II,” said Dougherty. What began as a B-17 airbase, the Sioux Gateway Airport is currently home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard, one of two air national
ABOVE: The history of the Sioux Gateway Airport dates back to World War II when it served as a B-17 airbase. (Photo provided by Sioux City Public Museum) guard bases — and the only flying unit — in the state. “The 185th is very active,” said Dougherty. “It’s highly respected in the community, not to mention one of the largest employers in the area. It’s a big part of Sioux City, and we want to keep them here a long time.” On the commercial side, the airport also supports a significant number of commercial and corporate hangars. “This new development will increase the overall activity at the airfield in multiple ways,” said Dougherty. One way the project will increase activity at the airport is through the fully accredited flight school as part of a new degree program offered through Morningside University. “You can learn to fly at a lot of places,” said Dougherty. “To get a college degree while you’re doing it is a different matter altogether.” Brian Miller, retired colonel and former commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard, agrees. “There is a huge demand for pilots forecasted
