By Aaron Thelenwood, West Michigan Regional Airport Authority
The West Michigan Regional Airport has been serving the Holland area for more than 50 years, and 30 years ago this month it became a public facility. Since then, it’s economic impact has been massive.
According to statistics from the MDOT/Aeronautics Division’s 2017 Michigan Aviation Plan report, an estimated $164 million of economic impact to the Holland/Zeeland area can be attributed to direct airport activities each year. Furthermore, 1,690 local jobs are directly related to airport operations, in
addition to an estimated 3,272 jobs supported through airport-related activities such as visitor spending and general air transport, according to the report.
The airport, located off South Washington Avenue in the City of Holland, has evolved from a grass-strip runway to a state-of- the-art facility serving local, regional, national, and international customers.
The airport celebrated the opening of its new Airport Business Center on Oct. 13, 2016, and it is celebrating its 30th year under public ownership this month. Development of the Business Center was identified by the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority as essential to the long-term economic success and viability of the airport. Making the Holland/Zeeland/Park Township area a community of choice for business growth is a key benchmark of positive economic impact within the scope of sustainability.
The West Michigan Regional Airport has helped that growth. It has an estimated 34,000 incoming and outgoing flights annually, including business, freight, and independent charter operations. An estimated 54,975 tons of cargo passes through the airport annually. Additionally, there were 22 charity flights provided to patients through Wings of Mercy over the last year. Wings of Mercy, an airport partner for many years, provides life-giving transportation to patients in need of treatment who otherwise could not afford to fly. The West Michigan Regional Airport is managed by the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority, which is comprised of representatives from three local municipalities: The cities of Holland and Zeeland as well as Park Township.
The airport is supported through a combination of federal, state, and local funding. The local funding is a 0.1 mill property tax in the three communities. For capital projects, the federal share can amount to up to 90 percent of costs, with state and local shares at 5 percent each. Additional revenue is generated through rents and fees charged to airport customers.
Around 95 percent of airport traffic is business related, allowing job creators in this community to remain competitive in a fast-paced world. The airport provides key infrastructure for companies and organizations to operate nationally and internationally while ensuring jobs remain and grow locally.
Aaron Thelenwood is the assistant manager for the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority and also is the solid waste, recycling, and sustainability coordinator for the City of Holland.
This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme
Economic Development: Businesses and the local consumers are driving engines that generate capital for growth and development. We want to be a location of choice for new business and industry.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Living Sustainably is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives. It is presented by the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a joint project of Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Go to www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute for more information.