Greil/News ReleaseTo: Commissioners; Glasgow - Leland Blatter - airport manager; Glendive - Leon Baker - airport
manager; Hamilton - Page Gough - airport manager; Wells, Candy; Harlowton - Dwight
Thompson - airport manager; Havre - Bill Arvin - airport manager; Hinsdale / Opheim - Valley
County Commissioners; Hysham - Glen White - airport manager; Jordan - Rod Weeding -
airport manager; Kalispell City - Fred Leistiko - airport manager; Laurel - John Smith - airpot
manager; Lewistown - Jerry Moline - airport manager; Libby - Lincoln County Commissioners;
Lincoln - Jerry Cain; Livingston - Kerry LaDuke - Livingston Airport Board; Malta - Dixon Hitch
- airport manager; Miles City - Brad Schmidt - airport manager; Philipsburg / Drummond -
Granite County Commissioners; Plentywood - Sheridan Co. Commissioners; Poison I Ronan -
Lake Co. Commissioners; Poplar - Dallas O'Conor - airport manager; Roundup - Jake
Barthule - airport manager; Saint Ignatius - Mike Kuefler - airport contact; Scobey - Charles
Trower - airport manager; Seeley Lake - Wade Cebulski; Shelby - Jerry Larson - airport
manager; Sidney / Fairview - Bill Henderson - airport manager; Solf, Lisa; Kelly, Amanda;
Stevensville - Don Misevic - airport manager; Sunburst - Toole County Commissioners;
Superior - Judy Stang - Mineral Co.; Terry - Willis Bartholomay - Airport Commission;
Thompson Falls / Plains / Hot Springs - Carol Brooker - Sanders County; Three Forks - David
Boyd - airport manager; Broadwater Commissioners; Madison County Commissioners; Valier
- Pondera County Commission; White Sulphur Springs - Bill Gait - airport board; Winifred -
Ralph Rogers - airport manager; Wolf Point - Rick Isle - airport manager; Billings - Kevin
Ploehn; Billings - Kim Annin; Billings - Mark Gabel; Billings - Mike Glancy; Billings - Shane
Ketterling; Billings - Tom Binford; Bozeman - Brian Sprenger; Bozeman - Ted Mathis; Butte -
Pat Shea; Butte - Rick Griffith; Great Falls - Bruce Sanford; Great Falls - Cinthia Schultz;
Great Falls - Rod Hall; Great Falls - Sharon Tuck; Helena - Connie Lundin; Helena - Jeff
Wadekamper; Helena - Kerry Johnson; Helena - Ron Mercer; Kalispell - Rob Ratkowski;
Missoula - Cris Jensen; Missoula - Dave Kreis; Missoula - Dennis Chudy; Missoula - Greg
Phillips; Missoula - Kelly Smith; Missoula - Rob Foote; Missoula - Teri Norcross; Sidney -
Russell Houtari; Bean, Anthony; Dahl, Maureen; Galen, Andrew; Gates, Gary; Stelling, Dave
Cc: Alke, Debbie; Murphy, Max; Greil, Jim
Subject: News Release
WITIMIT131 7_41110-32Z
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For More Information:
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Airports Contribute $1.56 billion to Montana's Economy
MDT Completes Airport Economic Impact Study
(HELENA) - The Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division recently completed a study
quantifying the economic benefit of Montana's public -use airports. Results of the Impact of Airports Study
show Montana's 120 public -use airports are a major catalyst to the state's economy.
In 2008, the economic value of aviation in the state was estimated at $1.56 billion. This includes expenditures
by hundreds of on -airport businesses and thousands of visitors using aviation services, as well as the multiplier
effect associated with this spending. In total, nearly 18,750 jobs with an annual payroll of nearly $600 million
are attributable to aviation in Montana. That represents 4 percent of all jobs in the state. These airports' total
economic impact comprises 4.5 percent of the estimated Gross State Product.
"While it is widely known that airports are vital to Montana's transportation system and provide access to
communities and resources across the state, the value has not been quantified," said Jim Lynch, MDT director.
"Airports provide residents and businesses a direct, efficient link to the national and global economy. Leisure
travelers use airports to reach Montana's national parks, ski resorts, hunting and fishing areas and to visit with
family and friends."
In addition, Montana residents increasingly depend on aviation to support their health, welfare and safety.
Montana's airports support critical services such as medical care, agriculture support, recreation and emergency
access. They also support aerial applicators, air ambulances, law enforcement and wild land fire fighting.
This study measured the economic impact of all 120 public use airports in Montana. Seven of these airports are
the State's Primary Commercial Service Airports, while eight are Commercial Essential Air Service (EAS)
Airports. There were 105 general aviation airports also included in the analysis. The study was conducted by
Wilbur Smith Associates with assistance from Morrison Maierle and was funded by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and by the Aeronautics Division.
Copies of the technical report and executive summary as well as 72 individual airport reports are available at
http://,"lww.mdt.mt.gov/aviation. MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may
interfere with a person participating in any service, program or activity of the department. Alternative
accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request. For further information call (406) 444-
2506 or TTY (800) 335-7592, or by calling Montana Relay at 711.
James R. Greil, Chief
Airports/Airways Bureau
Montana Aeronautics Division
406-444-2506 406-444-2519 [Fax]
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"Substance Rather Than Semblance"