air service

Central Minnesota businesses involved with the Bakken oil fields are encouraged to attend a meeting Thursday to talk about potential air service out of St. Cloud.

Officials charged with attracting an airline at St. Cloud Regional Airport have settled on one consulting firm to help them accomplish that goal. The airport group has worked with multiple consultants in the past but are recommending moving forward with just one.

Efforts to attract an airline to St. Cloud Regional Airport just got a big shot in the arm. The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded St. Cloud Airport a $750,000 Small Community Air Service Development Grant. Airport Director Bill Towle says they will match that with $250,000 locally to create a contingency fund for any airline willing to commit to regularly scheduled flights.