The City of Mount Pleasant officially celebrated the completion of a major expansion project at the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport this week, a project that represents a significant investment in regional economic development and transportation infrastructure.
The airport hangar expansion project totaled approximately $3.15 million and included the construction of new T-hangars and taxi lanes designed to meet growing aviation demand in Southeast Iowa.
Contractor Ryan Barton was proud to share the impact the project itself had on our economy here in Southeast Iowa.
City officials say the airport continues to play a growing role in supporting business, agriculture, recreation, and transportation throughout the region.
In 2025 alone, the airport recorded more than 3,300 estimated operations, including agricultural flights, business aviation, student training flights, rental flights, and transient traffic.
Fuel sales also remained strong, with nearly 40,000 gallons of jet fuel sold and more than 11,000 gallons of aviation gasoline distributed over the past year.
Mayor Steve Brimhall highlighted the airport’s importance to agricultural aviation, noting aerial applicators serviced approximately 300,000 acres from the Mount Pleasant airport last year.
Mayor Brimhall shared demand continues to rise for hangar space.
It was shared that the airport supports medical transplant flights, Civil Air Patrol training operations, Iowa State Patrol aviation activities, aerial surveying, and tourism traffic tied to the annual Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
The project was funded through a combination of federal and state grant dollars, with the city currently awaiting additional state funding reimbursements and pursuing one final grant to complete additional concrete work at the airport.