Saint Cloud Tech wins 30‑year $1/year ground lease to host new aircraft maintenance program
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Summary
Trustees approved a 30‑year $1/year ground lease at Saint Cloud Sky Central Airport to build a 40‑year legacy hangar/classroom for a new FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician program (two‑year cohort of 25 students per year). Funding strategy combines existing state workforce funds, DOT site grants and pending federal grants; college will cover shortfall if federal grants do not materialize.
Trustees approved a 30‑year ground lease with Saint Cloud Sky Central Airport to allow Saint Cloud Technical & Community College to construct an aircraft hangar/classroom to host a new FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) two‑year program.
President Klus told trustees the airport has agreed to lease land at $1 per year for 30 years to enable construction of a fabric‑wrapped "legacy" hangar with a projected cost of about $3,000,000. The college has secured $1.1 million in Minnesota State industry sector workforce funding, a DOT site‑improvement grant piece of $250,000, and has applied for a $1,000,000 FAA grant and a $1,000,000 congressionally directed spending request. The college also indicated it has set aside internal fund balance to cover the cost if federal grants do not come through.
The program expects initial cohorts limited by FAA Part 147 to 25 students in year one and 25 in year two; early outreach and industry partnerships (including the Air National Guard) were cited as local workforce benefits.
Trustees asked for cost clarity and funding sources; presenters provided line items and noted industry support for equipment and scholarships. A roll call vote approved the ground lease and the associated authorization to proceed.
