Greensburg, IN - The Greensburg Municipal Airport has officially opened Runway 1-19 for business aircraft.
City officials, Greensburg Aviation Board members, contractors, and partners on the project gathered on the new runway Saturday morning to officially open the runway for business, a project that has been in development since 2001 under then mayor Gary Bailey. Over the next two decades and five mayoral administrations, the Greensburg Aviation Board worked with engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc. (BF&S) to expand upon the current infrastructure of the Greensburg Municipal Airport in order to allow business class aircraft to land in Greensburg.
Construction of the new runway began in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, 11 Indiana aviation construction projects were defunded by the federal government- but two, including the Greensburg Municipal Airport, were re-funded due to the support of our Indiana congressional members and local government leaders. Not only was this project funded, but federal funding was increased. This increase in funding brought the community share to less than 5%.
"The completion of the expanded runway will connect Greensburg like never before," said Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh. "This marks the final piece in our local 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' network. Our Economic Development Corporation responds to requests for information from corporations and businesses alike, asking what our proximity is to a business class airport. Now, we can check that box off. This expansion will welcome visitors and travelers for years to come; there is a tremendous untapped potential that has landed in our backyard. Thank you to all of our former and current Greensburg Aviation Board members, our former mayors Gary Bailey, Frank Manus, Gary Herbert, and Dan Manus, and to all of our partners on the project."
Overall, the total project cost was $14.3 million. $13.4 million was funded through the Federal Aviation Administration, $444,500 was funded through the State of Indiana, and the remaining $444,5000 was funded locally.
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Group Photo
(L-R) BF&S Vice President Paul Shaffer, Attorney Don Tribbett, BF&S Airport Project Manager John Feister, Former Greensburg Aviation Board Member Orris Reece, Former Greensburg Aviation Board Member Don McCrary, Current Greensburg Aviation Board Member Kevin Whipple, Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh, Former Mayor and Current Greensburg Aviation Board Member Gary Bailey, Greensburg Aviation Board President Bill Ernstes, Current Greensburg Aviation Board Member Deborah Kilgore-Potter, Current Greensburg Aviation Board Member Dr. Jon Dooley, Former Mayor Dan Manus.
Aerial Photo of Completed Runway
