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SkyCentral (Saint Cloud) airport authority outlines growth, training program and capital needs

Sherburne County Board of Commissioners · April 8, 2026

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Summary

Representatives of the Saint Cloud Regional Airport Authority (SkyCentral) updated Sherburne County commissioners on operations growth, capital projects including an FAA‑backed ILS/lighting replacement and a new Aircraft Maintenance Technician school that received FAA certification; the authority requested working‑group coordination on levy arrangements.

Representatives from the Saint Cloud Regional Airport Authority (rebranding as "SkyCentral") briefed the Sherburne County Board on April 7 about recent operational growth, capital investments and governance topics tied to a county levy and regional funding.

The airport presentation noted roughly 40,500 operations in 2025 (takeoffs and landings, about 110 per day) and about 54,000 airline passengers in 2025 — a 21% increase year‑over‑year — driven in part by carriers such as Allegiant and Sun Country. The authority reported 104 based aircraft and several major capital projects underway or planned.

Among projects discussed: a multi‑million‑dollar replacement of an aging instrument landing system and lighting (a $6 million project with FAA and MnDOT participation), a recent $44.5 million T‑hangar and taxiway development, a $500,000 radio replacement and a $900,000 grading and drainage project. The authority said construction on the navigation/lighting work will begin this summer and complete next year.

A major new initiative is an Aircraft Maintenance Technician training program that recently received FAA certification. The authority expects the first cohort (25 students) this fall, with jobs paying around $35 per hour after a two‑year program; a 20,000‑square‑foot hangar is planned for training once bidding is complete.

The authority also described steps taken to stabilize revenue: instituting parking fees ($306,000 in 2025), updating lease terms and indexing to inflation, and adding new private hangars that increase annual revenue. The authority outlined operating challenges after transitioning from city operation (about $175,000/year in additional administrative costs) and described the need for a $2 million cash reserve to front grant‑funded capital projects.

Sherburne County officials discussed governance and finance mechanics: the city of Saint Cloud’s $620,000 commitment over ten years and a $200,000 local option sales tax component through 2038 were noted; the authority recommended a working group among the four partner counties and the airport authority to negotiate levy arrangements, governance clarifications and an MOU to guide any future levy changes.

Commissioners asked about aircraft types and military operations (Black Hawks, Chinooks) and welcomed the airport’s stated focus on regional economic impact and workforce development. The board accepted the recommendation to create a multi‑party working group to evaluate levy and governance arrangements.

Why this matters: the airport authority’s capital projects, training program and revenue adjustments have regional economic implications (the authority previously estimated about $50 million annual regional impact) and require county partners to clarify long‑term funding and governance roles.