Airport Announces Expansion

Economic Development Administration chief of staff Dana Gartzke touts the public and private partnership that is bringing a substantial investment and future jobs to the Cloquet Airport. Gartzke traveled from Washington to Minnesota and Carlton County Friday morning to announce a $1.2 million grant to establish an aeronautics workforce training center at the Cloquet Airport. Combined with $291,718 of state and $14,464 in county funds, the money will pay for a new training center and hangar at the rural Cloquet airport, which will, in turn, spur private investment. The investment is expected to create or retain nearly 40 jobs, according to an EDA press release. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2021. The EDA announced more than $4 million investment in various "opportunity zones" across the state Friday. Get more details about future plans for the Cloquet airport and Venture North Aviation in next week's Pine Knot News.