An area airport has secured funding for an upgrade to their terminal.

The Boone County Regional Airport in Harrison is receiving $7 million in grant money from the Federal Aviation Administration for an upgrade to their terminal, which Airport Manager Judy McCutcheon says in the release from the City of Harrison is 58 years old. 

According to the release, the new terminal will help elevate the existing no-stop flights from Harrison to Dallas as well as modernize the existing space.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2025.  

The compete release from the City of Harrison is below:

The Boone County Regional Airport (HRO) recently received historic Federal funding secured for a terminal upgrade.

A new terminal will elevate non-stop flights from Harrison to Dallas. The highly competitive federal funding to design and build a new airport terminal allowed Harriton to become one of the first general aviation airports to secure funds usually reserved for larger commercial airports.

Airport Manager Judy McCutcheon said, “Our existing terminal is 58 years old, and this grant allows us to build a modern terminal to meet today's needs. This will also be an airport that future generations of private pilots and passengers in our community will proudly use.”

The FAA grant will support the construction of a 7,100-square-foot terminal, replacing the existing building that no longer meets accessibility, capacity, or energy efficiency standards.

Key features of the terminal include modernized waiting areas, conference rooms, expanded parking, and enhanced spaces for tenants such as rental car agencies, airline counters, a pilot’s lounge, and upgraded landscaping and exterior design.

This project addresses the growing demand at HRO, where passenger enplanements have increased by 32% since 2014. Currently, HRO offers $79 flights with 18 weekly round-trip flights between Memphis and Dallas-Fort Worth, routes where demand consistently exceeds capacity. Serving Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri communities such as Harrison and Branson, HRO has provided Essential Air Service access since 1987. The funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s FY2025 Airport Terminal Program Grant, was secured with support from Sen. John Boozman, Rep. Rick Crawford, and the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Arkansas-based firms Garver and Hight Jackson will complete the design phase by spring 2025, and construction will begin in fall 2025 following the bidding process.

McCutcheon talked about the upgrade and more during a Nov. 20 on KHOZ's "Around The Table" show.