Glacier Park International Airport expansion project gets another infusion of federal money

Glacier Park International Airport earned another $2.5 million in federal funding this month for its ongoing terminal expansion project.  

The latest installment came as a pleasant surprise to Airport Director Rob Ratkowski, who applied for the competitive grant months ago. 

Awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Program, the dollars will expedite work on the expansion and address projects that had been put on the back burner, Ratkowski said.  

“We are super excited that this grant has come through,” he said. “This changes our financial picture.”  

The airport has also received millions through the Airport Improvement Program, a supplemental grant program. The competitive and supplemental grant programs the airport has accessed are funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.  

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, a prominent supporter of the legislation in Congress, praised the allocation of funds for the Flathead Valley transit hub.  

“I’m proud to have secured this funding for the airport’s expansion project to keep up with growing demand and ensure that folks in the Flathead have the critical infrastructure they need to run their businesses and stay connected,” said Tester in a statement. 

President Joe Biden signed the infrastructure bill into law in 2021. Over $20 million has gone to airport from the $1 trillion infrastructure law since its passage, according to Tester’s office.  

Of that, $7.3 million was awarded through the competitive Airport Terminal Program, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Ratkowski said that the latest money pool was their third successful award and expects the project to be finished before having to apply again.  

A portion of the latest grant will go toward a third bag claim device, which Ratkowski said costs around $1 million.  

The expansion project, which is in year eight, is necessary to keep up with demand while anticipating increased future use, Ratkowski said.  

“The airport would not have been able to function without the project,” he said.  

Travelers can expect to see renovation work at the front of the terminal completed by May, Ratkowski said. Work renovating the south side of the terminal is expected to be finished by May 2026. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at junderhill@dailyinterlake.com and 758-4407.