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Michigan City airport manager details operations, says $30 million runway extension is construction-ready but stalled by federal funding
Summary
Jessica Ward, manager of Michigan City Airport, reported airport operations and revenue, said a planned $30 million runway extension remains on the capital plan but is delayed because federal AIP funding has not kept pace with rising construction costs; local match estimated at about $1.5 million.
Jessica Ward, manager of the Michigan City Airport, told the Common Council on June 16 that the airport operates on 335 acres with a 4,100-by-75-foot runway, 24 hangars that house more than 60 aircraft and full hanger capacity.
Ward said airport revenue for 2025 totaled about $272,450, driven largely by fuel sales (roughly 53,780.9 gallons across fuel types) and land-lease and tie-down fees. She described commercial activity at the field — a skydiving operator, a flight school and maintenance businesses — and noted the airport hosted an open house and several community and emergency response training events last year.
Ward outlined a multi-year plan to extend the runway and associated taxiway structure. She said rising costs have pushed the full project estimate to roughly $30 million and that the Federal Aviation Administration irport Improvement Program (AIP) historically funds about 90 percent of eligible costs, with roughly 5 percent state and 5 percent local match. "We re construction-ready as soon as federal funds come in," Ward said, noting federal AIP shortfalls and rising regional project costs are delaying higher-cost projects.
Ward described the extension concept — lowering Highway 20 with a runway bridge structure and lengthening the runway to about 5,010 feet — which she said would allow larger aircraft and produce local economic benefits. She cited an INDOT Office of Aviation estimate of the airport's annual economic impact at about $7.39 million.
Council members asked about event traffic, the suitability of the current runway for historic World War II aircraft and alternative funding sources; Ward said the city is exploring private donations, congressional line items and other funding avenues while keeping the extension on the capital improvement program.
The airport manager also summarized recent capital projects completed with federal AIP support (runway crack sealing and surface treatment) and said the airport had negotiated operating agreements that increased revenue modestly. Ward concluded by inviting council members to the airport open house and listing planned events.
