Board approves CIP submission and pre‑application seeking runway funding
November 20, 2025 | Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana
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The Michigan City Board of Aviation Commissioners on Nov. 20 voted to submit a draft 2026–2031 capital improvement plan and related grant pre‑applications to the Federal Aviation Administration and Indiana Department of Transportation aimed at restarting a long‑planned runway project.
The submission, which board members approved by voice vote, is built around early work the board says must happen before a runway lowering: construction of a temporary road to carry U.S. 20 traffic while lowering the highway, installation of storm sewer to manage water during excavation, and relocation of utilities. The board’s packet lists a first‑year pre‑application total of about $7,500,000 for those items; the presenter noted FAA programming currently shows $6,200,000 for 2026 — below the board’s request.
“Let’s not get too excited, but they are programming basically 6,200,000 in 2025 for the runway project,” the meeting presenter said, describing federal programming and the discretionary candidate process the airport will use to compete for additional funding.
Why it matters: securing discretionary FAA funding and positioning the project in the agency’s queue is a key step to get the runway project back on track after a multi‑year pause. Presenter commentary emphasized that getting a first‑year discretionary commitment raises the priority for follow‑on years, which the board expects will improve the project’s chances of being funded through completion.
What was approved: the board’s motion authorized submission of the CIP and the associated fiscal‑year grant pre‑application before the Dec. 1 deadline. The motion was moved by Paul Keyholder and seconded; the board recorded the motion as carried by voice vote.
Details and next steps: board materials show funding lines that mix standard Airport Improvement Program (AIP) money and IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funds. The presenter said relocation agreements with Michigan City water and sewer are expected to be reimbursable and estimated at roughly $4.8 million; other utilities would be relocated at their own expense. The presenter also said staff will fine‑tune numbers with FAA office colleagues and submit the pre‑application and CIP by the Dec. 1 deadline.
The board did not set any binding local match beyond amounts shown in the packet and did not adopt contract awards at the meeting; the action was limited to approving the CIP submission and grant pre‑application. The board will receive updates as the FAA processes the pre‑application and discretionary requests.
The submission, which board members approved by voice vote, is built around early work the board says must happen before a runway lowering: construction of a temporary road to carry U.S. 20 traffic while lowering the highway, installation of storm sewer to manage water during excavation, and relocation of utilities. The board’s packet lists a first‑year pre‑application total of about $7,500,000 for those items; the presenter noted FAA programming currently shows $6,200,000 for 2026 — below the board’s request.
“Let’s not get too excited, but they are programming basically 6,200,000 in 2025 for the runway project,” the meeting presenter said, describing federal programming and the discretionary candidate process the airport will use to compete for additional funding.
Why it matters: securing discretionary FAA funding and positioning the project in the agency’s queue is a key step to get the runway project back on track after a multi‑year pause. Presenter commentary emphasized that getting a first‑year discretionary commitment raises the priority for follow‑on years, which the board expects will improve the project’s chances of being funded through completion.
What was approved: the board’s motion authorized submission of the CIP and the associated fiscal‑year grant pre‑application before the Dec. 1 deadline. The motion was moved by Paul Keyholder and seconded; the board recorded the motion as carried by voice vote.
Details and next steps: board materials show funding lines that mix standard Airport Improvement Program (AIP) money and IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funds. The presenter said relocation agreements with Michigan City water and sewer are expected to be reimbursable and estimated at roughly $4.8 million; other utilities would be relocated at their own expense. The presenter also said staff will fine‑tune numbers with FAA office colleagues and submit the pre‑application and CIP by the Dec. 1 deadline.
The board did not set any binding local match beyond amounts shown in the packet and did not adopt contract awards at the meeting; the action was limited to approving the CIP submission and grant pre‑application. The board will receive updates as the FAA processes the pre‑application and discretionary requests.
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