Dignitaries break ground on a new cargo facility at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport last week.
Airport breaks ground on cargo facility
A huge public-private project broke ground last week as Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport is partnering with Dallas-based Crow Holdings to build a state-of-the-art cargo facility on a large portion of the former 440th Airlift Wing just south of the airport.
“We all know that Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is one of the largest drivers of economic activity in Wisconsin and this investment will lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs and have a major economic impact on our community,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
The 337,000-square-foot facility will include a dedicated air cargo building, a new Milwaukee County Highway Maintenance facility to support county and state transportation needs and enhancements to adjacent taxiways to improve accessibility for wide-body cargo aircraft. The facility will be large enough to house five cargo planes, and it is expected to generate over $1.3 million in annual aircraft landing fees and more than $1 million in annual ground lease rents and fees.
“This project represents a generational investment for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport,” said Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “This public-private partnership is a win-win-win for the airport, Milwaukee County and manufacturers across Wisconsin. When this project is complete, builders and suppliers will be able to transport their raw materials and finished products in and out of Wisconsin more quickly and efficiently.
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) President Dale Kooyenga said this project fits into the organization’s vision to grow our regional economy.
“At MMAC, our goal is to be a globally competitive region that fosters high-value employment to sustain a vibrant quality of life for all,” said MMAC President Dale Kooyenga, one of the ground-breaking speakers. “When we have a county executive like David Crowley, when we have Brian (Dranzik) running the airport and we have Crow Holdings that recognizes where the next big places are to invest all coming together, this is what we get.”
The new facility is projected for completion in 2026.
