Stearns County Agrees To Contribute To Airport Fund

ST. CLOUD -- Stearns and Benton counties have agreed to contribute $10-thousand each to help attract an air carrier to the St. Cloud Regional Airport. The money would be added to a federal grant worth $750-thousand and used to ensure an airline was able to make the minimum revenue necessary to keep operating.

Airport Director Bill Towle says it is designed to help the airline in the short term.

Other communities have been asked to chip in as well including Sherburne County, the five St. Cloud area cities and local businesses.

If the airport gets the "Small Community Air Service Development Grant", they would combine that with local donations to establish a $1-million subsidy for any airline that agrees to provide two daily flights to Chicago.