Airport director says terminal is fully funded after $22.2M in grants and loans; county urged to adjust air-service line-item

The Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport's director told Sweetwater County commissioners on Nov. 5 that the new terminal project remains on schedule and on budget and that the capital funding package is complete.

Director Devin reported the airport secured approximately $22.2 million in funding made up of a $5 million Wyoming Business Council loan at 1% interest (30-year term), a $2 million state grant linked to the loan draw, two years of FAA apportionment swaps, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law apportionment, discretionary FAA awards (including a $7.5 million terminal program discretionary grant), a WYDOT discretionary grant of $1.35 million and other sources. "I have since gone out and secured $22,200,000 of funding for this project," Devin told the board, and he said the local jurisdictions no longer have capital obligations for the terminal. The airport director also briefed the board on air-service subsidy spending: first-quarter SkyWest minimum-revenue-guarantee (MRG) invoices indicate the county will need to increase its budget authority under the existing contract; he recommended processing a budget amendment to align the county’s budget with the full contract amount. The commissioners asked clarifying questions and expressed appreciation; the airport director said staff will return with a specific request for a budget amendment to cover the county share of the MRG contract.