Springfield airport gets state award for leasing old terminal

Springfield-Branson National Airport received a state award for its efforts to lease the former airport terminal.

Airport officials received the Business Partnership Award during the Missouri Economic Development Council's annual meeting May 25 at Lake of the Ozarks. The airport was honored "for its commitment to jobs and economic development in leasing a portion of the former airport terminal to Expedia Inc.," according to an airport news release.

“The airport went above and beyond what is typical to get involved in an economic development expansion project and made a significant effort to keep the growth and development of our community in the forefront,” said Jim Anderson, president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, in the release.

Expedia announced in February that it will lease 59,000 square feet of the 150,000-square-foot building, which has been vacant since the airport moved into the new midfield terminal in May 2009. The lease, which will begin in the fall, will bring in $430,000 a year to the airport coffers, along with offering Expedia the chance to expand on its 264 employees in Springfield.

"An airport, and its ability to move people in and out, is fundamental to business recruitment and job attraction," airport Aviation Director Gary Cyr said in the release. "Leasing space to Expedia is the icing on the cake.”