Appleton International Airport earns economic development award following renovation
The Appleton International Airport has come a long way since it was dedicated at its current location in 1965.
In just the past decade it has doubled its number of passengers, resulting in a recent 47,000-square-foot terminal expansion and renovation.
At a ceremony on Sept. 17, the airport’s $92 million project was recognized for its innovation and contributions to the community and to economic growth in northeast Wisconsin with a state economic development award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA).
Outagamie County, Miron Construction, Mead & Hunt, airlines, and regional businesses partnered to make the expansion a reality. APW can now accommodate larger aircraft and offer expanded routes while providing universal accessibility, sustainable operations, and first-class amenities.
Although the initial phase opened in April 2025, the work continues, including the remodeling of the older concourse to match the new look and feel and connecting it to the new concourse. Updates include restaurants and shops. Those additional improvements will continue through 2026.
“Our goals in this project were to connect the Fox Cities to the world through a facility that provides universal access, environmental stewardship, technological innovation, and showcases regional entrepreneurs and products,” said Airport Director Abe Weber in a press release. “Along the way, we created amenities and features driven by traveler input all to make air travel faster, easier, and more convenient.”
The project has strengthened Northeast Wisconsin’s connection to global markets. The economic impact includes nearly 8,000 new jobs and $1.3 billion in direct business sales.
“A study conducted in 2025 showed the airport has a total economic impact of nearly $2 billion, which has a multiplier effect on the Northeast Wisconsin region,” said Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson. “We now welcome more than one million visitors annually and expect that number will continue to grow as a result of our investment into the terminal and surrounding business parks.”
It was funded through a combination of state, federal, and regional grants, along with budgeted dollars.
More than half of the total funding came from federal sources, including the Federal Aviation Administration via the Airport Improvement Program and the Airport Terminals Program (backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).
The state also contributed significantly, including allocations from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, and the Wisconsin State Building Commission.
Outagamie County provided a one-time $10 million investment and loans, along with local budgeted dollars and airport cash reserves, to launch and complete the project.
The Outagamie County Airport's long history began in the 1920s. After many twists and turns, the airport was located on Ballard Road in Appleton.
