100-acre business park expansion at Appleton International Airport is ready for takeoff

APPLETON (WLUK) — An expansion project at the Appleton International Airport is aiming to elevate businesses related to aviation.

ATW officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to kick off development of what will be known as the Appleton Airport Business Park. With roughly 100 acres available, the business park will offer space for up to 10 hangars, as well as facilities mainly for use by aerospace companies, offering hundreds of jobs in the industry.

The project’s price tag is approximately $3.9 million, but the expansion is beingfunded by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Officials say the project will lay the foundation for future development and stimulate greater economic growth by providing an additional access point to the airfield. The business park is located near the privateairplane flight center and main terminal, and just minutes away from access to I-41.

The first phase of the project includes building a road connecting Endeavour Drive to State Highway 76.Other improvements include water, electric and gas utilities and an expanded concrete apron. Construction is estimated to be complete in July 2025.

Airport Director Abe Weber called this project the “next frontier of growth and development” for ATW.

We’re effectively laying the groundwork for more economic activity right here atAppleton International Airport — economic activity that will bolster and diversify our airport revenues and make us stronger now and into the future.

Weber said throughout the expansion process, the airport will lean on its past successes that have enabled ATW’s immense growth throughout the past two decades.

“We’ve seen this blueprint before. 20 years ago, on the south side of the airport, there was just one small road and a few small, private hangars that used to exist. And with a little bit of investment, we were able to attract over $175 million in development. And we’re certainly going to look to use that same blueprint here,” Weber said.

Weber is excited to see what the future holds for ATW and the Appleton community when the business park is complete.

“Together, I think we’re really, truly building something special at Appleton Airport. It’s a very exciting time for us and I look forward to watching this next frontier grow and develop,” he said.