METRO EAST – MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah announced their grand opening of an expanded terminal on Tuesday. Supported by State Senator Christopher Belt and other state and local officials, this is a transformative, $31 million multi-year project for the Metro East region.

“This is a big day for the Metro East. Whenever you can add terminals to an airport – that means growth and that’s what we want,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The airport will be better equipped to meet the growing demands of passengers, airlines and businesses, driving even more economic growth and bolstering regional development.”

For the last 25 years, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has been a popular travel choice for families in the Metro East and one of the busiest airports for travel in Illinois. The state-funded expansion will make the travel experience more convenient and comfortable for passengers flying through one of the state’s premier airports.

The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport terminal project expanded the existing 53,500-square-foot terminal by over 41,000square feet to meet the needs of the growing number of passengers at the airport. This project was made achievable through collaborative efforts of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which provided $7 million in grant funding, and the support of $24 million in federal funding.

“DCEO is committed to supporting the growth of our state’s multibillion-dollar aviation system across Illinois,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “The terminal expansion at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport will elevate the travel experience for Illinoisans and visitors alike while ensuring our state remains a premier travel destination with unmatched infrastructure.”

The state’s investments in the aviation system continue to bolster economic development across Illinois. The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion while the statewide aviation system produces a $95.5 billion annual economic impact.