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Airport board repurposes $200,000 MDOT grant for runway, terminal studies and parking design
Summary
The Manistee County Blacker Airport Authority voted Feb. 9 to repurpose $200,000 in 2025 MDOT Air Service Revitalization Grant funds for runway-extension and terminal-justification studies and to use remaining funds for additional parking design; funds must be spent by Aug. 31, 2026.
The Manistee County Blacker Airport Authority voted unanimously Feb. 9 to repurpose $200,000 in 2025 MDOT Air Service Revitalization Grant funds toward studies and preliminary design for a runway extension and terminal justification, and to allocate any remaining grant money for additional parking design. The motion was made by Mr. Jeff Dontz and supported by Ms. Cynthia Kaminski; the roll call recorded five yeas and two absences (Karen Goodman and Michael Schrader).
Board materials state that staff'led outreach and due diligence with multiple carriers did not identify a sustainable, unsubsidized commercial air-service operating model. The minutes note the grant funds must be spent by Aug. 31, 2026. The action directs resources to produce justification studies and preliminary design work that Mead & Hunt and airport staff say will be required before pursuing federal construction funding.
