Theodore Roosevelt Regional seeks $10.8M in local pledges for new terminal

Airport officials on Tuesday asked Stark County commissioners to consider a $4 million local contribution toward a planned $53.4 million terminal and ramp project at Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport.

Airport manager Kelly Brown told the commission the project would replace an undersized terminal and accommodate larger regional jets and more passengers. “We closed out last year, in 2024, with record passenger numbers,” Brown said, arguing the county needs a modern building and ramp to keep commercial air service viable.

The proposal calls for $29.2 million in state funding already approved by the Legislature, roughly $12 million that would be eligible for federal airport funding, and a local funding gap of about $10.8 million. The local plan the airport authority presented allocates that $10.8 million as: airport authority $2 million; City of Dickinson $4 million; Stark County $4 million; with additional asks to Dunn County ($2 million) and Billings County ($800,000). Brown said the airport authority currently holds roughly $2 million in cash and would borrow or seek other sources only if needed.

Brown described a single-level, roughly 27,000-square-foot terminal with modern security screening, a holdroom sized for about 130 seats, a jet bridge, and a new parking area and driveway off Highway 22. The design intends to eliminate exterior stairs or elevators for passengers, improving accessibility and lowering long-term maintenance costs. Brown said the airport has also secured a $1.4 million grant from the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission for design work.

Commissioners asked about how local contributions would be structured and whether the airport would borrow if local partners could not meet the full request. Brown said the airport has a range of financing options, including levy authority and user fees, but stressed the airport has operated conservatively and prefers not to take on unnecessary debt. “The airport doesn't have any debt; we pay as we go,” she said.

Brown said the airport is already in talks with airlines about bringing larger regional aircraft, and that those carriers have asked for the capability to handle 76-seat-plus regional jets. She said without additional space the airport must decline some airline equipment options.

Commissioners did not vote on a pledge Tuesday. Brown said the airport plans further outreach to the neighboring counties and the City of Dickinson as the county moves into next year’s budget process.

The airport official estimated the total project cost at $53.4 million, including ramp and taxiway work that will qualify for federal Airport Improvement Program funding; $29.2 million in state funds; $12 million of potential federal share on eligible items; and the $10.8 million local share the airport authority is asking local governments to cover.

Next steps include continued outreach to county commissions and the Dickinson City Commission and refining the timetable and financing structure before the county’s 2026 budget cycle.