Sullivan County International Airport Unveils $24 Million Upgrade
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of a $24 million project to revitalize Sullivan County International Airport, transforming it into a modern and energy-efficient travel hub. This project, which began in May 2023, was made possible by an $18. 5 million award from the Governor’s Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.
The Governor emphasized the importance of making a good first impression and ensuring that upstate airports represent their local communities well. The modernization of Sullivan County International Airport, located in the Catskill region, is expected to boost tourism and economic growth in the area. Hochul stated, “The modernization of the Sullivan County International Airport gives one of the fastest growing regions in the state a first-class travel hub, sending an unmistakable signal that the Catskills are open for business and ready for visitors.
The new 15,000-square-foot terminal replaces a mid-20th-century building and boasts impressive features such as laminated timber beams, floor-to-ceiling windows, and panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains. Along with the aesthetic upgrades, the terminal also includes a restaurant and bar, an outdoor deck overlooking the runway, a pilot’s lounge, conference and office space for aviation-related businesses, and a public meeting room.
In addition to the modernization of the terminal, the project also includes energy-efficient improvements such as a geothermal HVAC system, upgraded insulation, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging stations. The parking lot has been repaved, and new furniture and fixtures have been added. The airport’s septic system has been expanded, and fire suppression systems have been upgraded.
Sullivan County International Airport, which first opened in 1969, is situated on a 600-acre hilltop near Monticello, only 90 miles from New York City. It serves as a gateway to popular regional attractions like the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, and generates an estimated $10. 1 million in local economic activity.
The Sullivan County project was one of nine airport modernization efforts selected in 2022 for funding under Hochul’s Upstate Airport Competition. Other airports that received funding include Albany International, Watertown International, Syracuse Hancock International, and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International.
Local leaders have expressed their appreciation for the Governor’s investment, seeing it as a crucial step in expanding the region’s economic potential. Assemblymember Paula Elaine Kay said, “With this investment, Sullivan County is taking off. The new airport terminal will bring visitors, business, and energy to our region. ” County Manager Joshua A. Potosek also praised the project, stating that it “represents a beautiful, functional terminal of which the entire county and state can be proud.