Gutknecht promotes Transportation grant

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- While traversing his First District by car, Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht stopped at the New Ulm Municipal Airport Thursday to present a symbolic check for airport improvements to the mayor.

It was Gutknecht's way of publicizing a grant of $146,800 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund "runway rehabilitation and an airport master plan study."

Before the day was over, Gutknecht also had stopped at Springfield's municipal airport to present a similar federal grant of $102,285 for land acquisition, runway rehabilitation and an airport master plan study.

"Many times when we're talking about transportation, it's about highway funds, but it's really about all areas of transportation, including airports, seaports and barges," Gutknecht told New Ulm Mayor Joel Albrecht who accepted the symbolic check for the city.

"If you don't have a good airport, that has a huge impact on the community's economic development," Gutknecht said.

The congressman said other communities, like Marshall, for example, haven't been as fortunate as New Ulm in attracting federal dollars for their airports.

"If you want to have economic development, you need to have access; it's critical to communities like New Ulm. You've worked very effectively to make it happen. I have to say that Mayor Albrecht is as persistent as anyone I've ever met."

Albrecht said represents a portion of the cost of repairs and the master plan.

"It's based on a formula. It's not a case of getting all the money necessary to do the job," he explained.

During a guided tour of the airport facility, conducted by the mayor, Gutknecht visited with the staff of New Ulm Flight Service, Inc.