This question might stump a fair share of Iowans. Are there more counties or airports in the state?

Iowa is actually home to 117 airports scattered around the state, including eight designated for commercial services, 101 that are smaller and handle general aviation needs, and eight that are privately owned and open for public use.

Nearly all of the smaller airports in Iowa are located in rural communities, many of which serve as economic hubs within a county or region. A recent Iowa Department of Transportation study found that the largest employers in the state rank access to a commercial airport as the third most important factor when looking at community attributes necessary to expand business operations.

LANDING SUCCESS: More than 650 people attended an open house and fly-in event at the Lamoni Airport in southern Iowa recently, the first community celebration event at the airport in nearly 30 years.

“A mile of highway will take you a mile; a mile of runway will take you anywhere,” says Jordan Omstead, city of Lamoni council member, whose community in Decatur County is making significant investments in their local airport to help stimulate and grow the regional economy. “We have worked hard to shift the community mindset from our local airport being simply an out-of-the-way facility for fair-weather pilots to the idea that it can be an economic driver that can benefit the entire region and stimulate rural development.” 

USDA loans help make this project possible

Earlier this fall more than 650 people, double what event organizers expected even with light rain showers throughout the day, attended the open house and fly-in event at the Lamoni Airport to celebrate a runway extension and the newly constructed six-bay hangar. The hangar was donated from the Des Moines International Airport and rebuilt at the Lamoni Airport.

The event included a free lunch, free airplane rides, skydivers, an aerobatics routine and presentations from local community leaders. It was the first community celebration to be held at the Lamoni Airport in nearly 30 years. “Reusing the hangar allowed us to build a like-new facility for a little more than half the cost of building new,” says Omstead. “We have already seen an increase in large commercial sized aircraft as a result of these improvements, and two corporations have already asked to lease space in the new hangar for their corporate aircraft.”

USDA Rural Development assisted the airport-expansion project by providing more than $750,000 in loan funds. The USDA Rural Development loans were used as the community’s local matching funds with other project partners, including the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. “These improvements will play a key role in encouraging economic development in southern Iowa and northern Missouri,” says Tim Helmbrecht, USDA Rural Development acting state director in Iowa. “More than 40,000 people live within the service area of this facility.”

Opening the region to new opportunities

Access to a commercial-sized airport opens the entire region to opportunities that did not exist a year ago.

“Lamoni and the surrounding communities are leveraging the expanded commercial airport as an additional economic driver to attract corporations to this region, create new jobs, increase the number of consumers in our stores, and the number of students in our schools,” notes Omstead. “Nothing we have done, or are doing, would be possible without the funding made available by USDA Rural Development.”

During the next five years additional land will be acquired to extend the airport’s runway to 4,000 feet, long enough to accommodate medium-sized commercial aircraft. Also, improved aircraft parking and maneuvering space will be created.

“We intend to continue growing our airport,” Omstead adds. “Our runway extension to 3,400 feet has already allowed for larger traffic. Reaching our goal of 4,000 feet will allow for the operation of small corporate jets.”

RURAL AIRPORTS: Most of the smaller airports in Iowa are located in rural communities, many of which serve as economic hubs within the county or region.

Air Force experience aids airport project

When Lamoni city leaders were trying to find someone to help manage their airport project they did not have to look very far. Jordan Omstead, City Council member, who grew up on a nearby farm, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, graduating in 2006. He then spent seven years managing large construction projects for the Air Force all over the world.

Since returning home, Omstead has earned his airline transport license, manages a growing aerial application operation and fills in for several area operators who fly corporate business aircraft.

Omstead gives credit to the entire community, city leaders, staff, volunteers and donors for all that they have accomplished so far.

“We could not have been this far with this project without everyone’s commitment, support, hard work and dedication,” he says. “The task of increasing economic development opportunities by creating jobs, attracting businesses and offering services to new residents never ends.”

Leach is public information coordinator with USDA Rural Development in Iowa.