Committee backs $150,000 seed for regional aviation development fund to attract new air service

The Infrastructure Committee on June 5 unanimously approved a motion asking county administration to include $150,000 in the proposed 2026 budget as Marathon County’s initial contribution to a Central Wisconsin Air Service Development Fund. Central Wisconsin Airport Director Brian Griefy told the committee the fund would be used to implement a limited minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) program to reduce airlines’ revenue risk when launching new service.

“This is an opportunity to do something different and to help air service in Marathon County,” said Brian Griefy, Central Wisconsin Airport director. Griefy described an MRG as a temporary financial safety net, limited to 12–24 months, that covers revenue shortfalls versus an agreed target; it is not a direct subsidy to the airline, he said, and is typically funded from non‑airport local sources and governed transparently.

Griefy said a $500,000 fund is a common “sweet spot” for attracting a new seasonal route or a low‑cost carrier; $1.5 million could support multiple routes or daily service with a legacy carrier. He asked the county to seed the fund with $150,000 while staff work to secure contributions from Portage County, area foundations, business partners and possible federal small community air service development grants.

Committee members asked about carrier targets, likely destinations, and how the county’s contribution would be used and governed. Griefy named Sun Country and Breeze as likely low‑cost targets and said the airport would present business cases to carriers for leisure destinations such as Orlando, Fort Myers, Phoenix and Las Vegas; legacy carriers could be targeted for daily hub service such as Dallas‑Fort Worth or Detroit. He emphasized there is no guarantee an airline will commit but that MRGs reduce airlines’ initial financial risk and are commonly used by similarly sized communities.

County Administrator Leonard told the committee that directing administration to include $150,000 in the 2026 proposed budget would allow county support to be pledged early and help leverage other local and regional funds. Vice Chair Dickinson and members of the joint airport board expressed unanimous support; staff said the fund would be managed by an independent entity with clear performance metrics and transparency, and that funds would only be disbursed to cover actual revenue shortfalls per the established agreement.

Supervisor Seibert moved and Supervisor Hartinger seconded a motion to support the airport board’s request for Marathon County to include $150,000 in the 2026 budget for the Central Wisconsin Air Service Development Fund; the committee voted aye with no opposition and forwarded the recommendation to other standing committees as part of the budget process.