New task force wants to market, improve I-80 corridor

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By Tory Brecht | Monday, May 5, 2008 2:05 AM CDT | () comments

The interstate corridor north of Davenport should be a big-time job and tax base generator, but a lack of cooperative marketing and aging infrastructure at the municipal airport have prevented it from reaching its full potential.

A newly formed Davenport

I-80 Airport Commerce Corridor Task Force intends to fix those problems.

“We’ve identified three very good amenities out there — the airport, the Iowa Research, Commerce and Technology Park and the Eastern Iowa Industrial Park,” said Alderman Gene Meeker, at-large, who is chairing the task force. “We’re one of only a few cities around with these type of assets. We want to work out joint marketing and a rebranding of the area and find ways the city can assist in improving the area and tying it all together.”

Task force members — including members of the Davenport Municipal Airport Commission, the two industrial and research parks, city staff and elected officials — focused attention on airport issues at its most recent meeting.

Dale Hendricks, an airport commissioner, said the 60-year-old terminal is nearing the end of its useful life. In addition, the airport needs to expand its runway and add hangar space to make it attractive for corporate jets and freight service.

The current runway is 5,501 feet long, which restricts its ability to be used by large aircraft and in inclement weather. Hendricks said a plan is in place to expand the runway to 7,000 feet, which would accommodate planes as large as 757s and all corporate jets.

In addition, the airport is “bursting at the seams” in terms of hangar space, said Sandra Barrett of Carver Aero, which operates the airport for the city.

“There are more businesses that want to bring aircraft in, but we’re plumb full,” she said, adding there is a waiting list for use of hangar space.

Craig Olson, another commissioner, said a new terminal with an attached hangar likely would cost about $2 million.

It’s desperately needed, he said. A few years ago, Olson said, the owner of a large company flew in to Davenport to look at the old Caterpillar Inc. plant. But shortly after landing, the prospect said the poor condition and aging infrastructure of the airport forced him to remove Davenport from consideration. That business would have generated 2,500 jobs, he said.

The commissioners said the federal government would likely pick up a large chunk of the runway extension project, but local money would be needed for the terminal project.

Pam Miner, the city’s economic development director, said building a terminal is in the city’s long-range capital improvements project list.

Meeker believes the political will is there to make airport and other improvements in the corridor.

“We identified in our council sessions that adding jobs and tax base are major priorities,” he said. “What better way is there than upgrading what we already have? I think things are going to happen and the council is going to be supportive of what we want to do out here.”

Michael Giudici, developer of the Iowa Research, Commerce and Technology Park, said a commitment to modernizing is essential.

“For years, Davenport and the Quad-Cities have been defined by big industry,” he said. “But that is becoming a smaller and smaller percentage of the total workforce. We have to lure entrepreneurial, high-tech and research and development types of businesses.”

Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or tbrecht@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.