By JULIE CURTIS
SBN Director of Marketing and Development

SOUTH BEND — Today, Thursday, Sept. 24, the St. Joseph County Airport Authority board of directors awarded a contract in the amount of $9.02 million to Ziolkowski Construction Inc. for the construction of the federal inspection station and general aviation facility at South Bend International Airport. A start date will be determined in the following weeks with a project completion date of fall, 2016.

Additionally, SBN has been awarded $3.089 million in FAA grant funds that will be used on this project.

SBN received its international designation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in early 2014. The FIS will allow commercial aircraft to fly nonstop to and from international destinations. Passengers will be able to clear customs in these new facilities. The GAF will offer these same services for corporate and general aviation aircraft. 

“I am pleased that our board was able to award the contract to a local contractor,” said Mike Daigle, SBN executive director. “This project is creating local jobs and impacting the local economy from the onset. All of our business development efforts have an end goal of making our community a better place to live, work and play.” 

SBN officials are continuing to work with carriers to provide international service. Weekly service to Cancun will most likely be the first leisure destination served.

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