TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. — Shovels in hand, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Svante Myrick, Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, Airport Director Mike Hall and others officially broke ground on the fast-moving Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport redevelopment project.

It was only May that Cuomo visited Ithaca last to announce Tompkins County would receive $14.2 million in state funding to overhaul and upgrade the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. On Tuesday, Cuomo visited the airport in Ithaca again to join local and state officials to break ground on the project, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.

YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM: YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM:

"Today, we are breaking ground on the future of this airport, a transformed facility that will fuel the next generation of growth for Ithaca and the entire region," said Howard Zemsky, president and CEO of Empire State Development and Commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development.

The full project will cost about $24.7 million. The county is on the hook for the amount the state is not covering, about $10.5 million, but airport officials are working to secure a mix of grants.

By the end of 2019, the airport will look much different inside and out. The project will expand the existing terminal, add six new gates and three passenger bridges. There will also be security enhancements and the addition of a customs facility that will allow international aircraft to fly directly to the airport.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The new customs facility will ensure the transformed airport will be truly a global destination," Zemsky said.

As part of the project, the Department of Transportation is getting a new facility by the airport which will open up valuable waterfront space in the City of Ithaca.

"This project is so important for the success and future of our city. The airport is and has been a lifeline, a way for people to get in and out of our community," Mayor Svante Myrick said.

Myrick also said moving the DOT facility and focusing on redeveloping the waterfront will be "a chance to bring people back down to the water and make this the lake town it deserves to be."

ADVERTISEMENT

Behind the speakers Tuesday sat the Ithaca-built Tommy plane, which recently had a historic centennial flight. Referencing the recent flight and restoration of the plane, Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson said they are celebrating "the continuity here of innovation and progress that we're just getting started on."

Robertson also highlighted the energy-saving initiatives that are taking place along with the airport redevelopment, including making it a geothermal facility. Solar power will also be used.

"Even when we increase the size by 50 percent, we're going to be reducing our energy costs by $50,000 a year," Robertson said.

Cuomo said it takes daring for the county and Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport to take on a project of this scale.

"This is a big deal. It takes vision. It takes guts. And it takes a lot of hard work," Cuomo said. "You want to survive and thrive economically? People have to be able to get to you. That's step one. And the economy is not going to drive here. The new economy is global, it's international and they fly."

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport received funding as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. Cuomo said the state is focusing on building up airports "because they are the new front door to the new economy."