Nine upstate airports will share $230 million for revitalization projects, Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week.
Funding comes from the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, a competitive solicitation to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports.
Hochul made the announcement at Greater Binghamton Airport.
“I was reflecting on a description of this airport, and I thought this was very diplomatic, whoever wrote this,” she said, quoting from a description that calls the airport “an aging mid-century facility with the prestigious history but faded in piecemeal identity.”
“Who wrote that? That is brilliant,” Hochul said. “That is brilliant. Is there a poet out there who wrote this? “A captivating hilltop location. Historical expansions have boxed in the terminal’s interior space, resulting in the dark, constricted-feeling passenger experience,” which I just felt when I walked in over there.”
Binghampton will receive $32 million for two projects – relocation of the General Aviation Terminal to integrate it with the Passenger Terminal and building a new, 3,000-sq. ft. general aviation customs & border protection facility south of the terminal.
The following projects were also approved:
Albany International Airport: $60 million for the expansion of the airport’s terminal.
Watertown International Airport: $28 million for the reconstruction and expansion of the airport’s 20,000-square-foot terminal.
Saratoga County Airport: $27 million for the construction of a new, energy-efficient terminal building.
Syracuse Hancock International Airport: $20 million for essential upgrades to the airport’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Inspection Station (FIS) and adding approximately 4,700 sq. ft. to the concourse.
Sullivan County International Airport: $18.5 million to reconfigure the interior, creating additional space for passengers, a new pilot lounge, and better views of the Catskill Mountains.
Ogdensburg International Airport: $18 million for the renovation and expansion of the terminal building as well as exterior improvements.
Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport: $18 million for two projects – revitalization of the terminal building and enhancements to airport operations, making HVAC enhancements and renovations to the freight building and the baggage belt.
Adirondack Regional Airport: $8.5 million for revitalization of the terminal building.