OKMULGEE – Okmulgee Regional Airport has broken ground on a new terminal building as part of a more than $2.5 million improvement project. The $2,502,775 project will include construction of the terminal along with improvements to parking, sidewalks, lighting, utilities, drainage, fencing and airport access.
Funding includes $602,775 in federal grant money, $950,000 from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and $950,000 in matching funds from the City of Okmulgee.
“This project is exactly what strategic airport investment should look like,” ODAA Airports Division Manager Nick Young said. “We’re not simply building a new terminal; we’re giving Okmulgee Regional Airport the infrastructure it needs to better serve businesses, pilots and visitors for decades to come.”
The new terminal is designed to serve pilots, passengers and visitors arriving in Okmulgee and will include an aviation-inspired exterior featuring the airport’s “OKM” identification.
The ODAA Commission approved the state’s $950,000 contribution during its July 15 meeting.
Construction is expected to take about one year. Early work will include demolition, grading, drainage and utility work, followed by construction of roads, parking, sidewalks and the terminal foundation.
Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin said the project will help improve visitors’ first impression of the city while creating additional opportunities for the community.
“For many people who arrive here by air, this airport is their first impression of our city,” Baldwin said. “We want that first impression to reflect the pride we have in Okmulgee, and the direction we’re headed.”