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News last month of a $2.5 million federal grant is the latest example of how economic powerhouse Chennault International Airport is steamrolling into 2024. A center for economic diversity in SWLA, Chennault is a nationally recognized center of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul — everything from painting to high-end interior refinishing — and has served the needs of government heads of state to civilian and military aircraft from around the world for more than three decades.
Chennault’s tenant partners — firms such as Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, LandLocked Aviation Services, CDL Mentors, Jeff Davis Electric, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, and Masonite/Louisiana Millwork, to name a few — employ over 1,000 people. Those aren’t government jobs. They’re people hired by the many companies who operate at Chennault.
Expected Plans for 2024
The $2.5 million federal grant for expansion of its fire-suppression capacity to support business growth will be matched with $2.3 million in local funds and is expected to create and retain more than 1,200 jobs and generate $5.9 million in private investment, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration. “This represents a very significant opportunity for the airport, community and state,” said Chennault Executive Director Kevin Melton. “It’s part of a strategic plan to build resilient infrastructure so that we can build even more job opportunities for this region.” The funding is from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023. Overall, Chennault International Airport is investing millions in various projects this year that are expected to expand the airport’s capabilities. The plan is to bring more than 12 projects to life, including a wastewater treatment building for the paint hangar, the utility corridor project to prepare for new buildings, and a new firewater pumphouse that will push millions of gallons of water to the hangars in case of fire.
Room for Growth
With 900-plus acres available for economic development, there’s still room for expansion. One new tenant partner, the Louisiana National Guard, will move into its new $32 million, 60,000-square-foot readiness center. Furthermore, Chennault’s multi-year master plan — which includes $20 million this year alone for roads, hangars, warehousing and manufacturing — is intended to capitalize on the development opportunities offered across the airport.
