In June 2023, the Houston County Airport received an Airport Improvement Program federal grant of nearly $415,000 to improve outdated infrastructure and purchase more land, allowing for further development to accommodate multi-engine planes.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited the facility in Caledonia, Minnesota on Monday, to see the impact of expanded federal funding for infrastructure projects in rural communities.
“It’s part of our economy in southeastern Minnesota – we make stuff, we invent things. Farmers are producing a lot of things, and they need crop-dusting, so this is a big deal,” said Klobuchar. “If you don’t have this airport, they have to go far away. It really helps the entire economy to have this airport.”
The grant funding allowed the airport to purchase land for development and construct a taxilane, two of the many projects the airport hopes to continue to invest in.
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks with Houston County Engineer Brian K. Pogodzinski at the Houston County Airport in Caledonia, Minn. on Monday, July 15. The airport received a federal grant of just under $415,000 to improve infrastructure and allow for expansions.
“I’ve seen airports around the state that aren’t continuing to move forward with the latest technologies – and they have literally closed down,” said Klobuchar.
However, this project only touches on the necessity of funding for infrastructure projects in smaller communities.
Working alongside Congressman Brad Finstad, Klobuchar said they have been working to ensure funding for projects that may not typically be on the radars of other legislators.
“It really matters in these small towns,” said Klobuchar. “We have got to make transportation work, and we have got to stand in and help with the safety net. … When the federal government just pays attention to big metro areas, then you’re not doing the job for the citizens.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks with Houston County Commissioner Bob Burns on Monday, July 15. Klobuchar helped secure federal funding for the airport, which will be able to land two-engine planes at the site once the expansion is complete.
Emphasizing and addressing the issues of smaller towns and rural communities is critical to the future success and opportunities available within these areas, she said.
“I’ve always believed that kids who grow up in southeastern Minnesota should be able to stay there,” said Klobuchar.
She noted things such as broadband internet access, cell phone service and other essentials, such as clean water – an issue that is particularly important to the community in Caledonia right now.
“Our biggest issue is our wastewater treatment facility that we have been working on since 2018,” said Jake Dickson, Caledonia city clerk.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar visits the Houston County Airport in Caledonia, Minn. on Monday, July 15.
The city’s wastewater treatment facility was supposed to have construction completed last July. However, according to Dickson, the construction company did not order the pipe, so they could not build the wastewater plant.
Now, they are a year behind on that project and have had to renew the permit for the old and outdated treatment facility.
“Our infrastructure is old, it needs to be replaced,” said Dickson.