SEMINOLE, Okla. – The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and the City of Seminole broke ground Thursday on a new terminal building at Jimmie Austin Seminole Regional Airport, marking the start of construction on a project that will modernize the airport’s facilities and strengthen its role as an economic asset for the community.
State and local leaders, aviation professionals and community members gathered at the airport for the ceremony and heard from ODAA Airports Division Manager Nick Young; Seminole Mayor Cory Crabtree; and Matthew Ranck of Garver, the project’s engineering firm.
“Every community airport plays an important role in connecting Oklahoma communities to the national aviation system and supporting local economic activity. Investing in facilities like this terminal helps ensure our airports remain welcoming, functional and ready to meet the needs of the people and businesses that depend on them. Seminole is a great example of what can be accomplished through strong partnerships between local, state and federal aviation partners,” said Young.
The $2.98 million project is funded with $1 million in state grant funds from ODAA, $934,182 in federal grant funds and $1,049,168 from the City of Seminole. The ODAA Commission approved the state grant in August.
“This groundbreaking represents more than the start of a construction project. It represents an investment in Seminole and the opportunities ahead for our community. Our airport is an important asset, and a modern terminal will help us better serve the pilots, visitors and businesses who come through our community. We’re proud to see this investment become a reality and grateful for the partnerships that helped make it possible,” said Crabtree.
The new, 4,200-square-foot terminal will include architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection improvements, along with site, civil and landscape work. Garver is the project engineer, New Fire Native Design Group is the architect, and W.L. McNatt & Company is the general contractor. Construction began this month and is expected to be complete around November 2027.
“Projects like this are about more than constructing a new building. They’re about creating facilities that support the people who use the airport and help communities make the most of their aviation assets. We’re proud to work alongside the City of Seminole and ODAA to bring this project to life and deliver a terminal that will serve the airport and its users for years to come,” said Ranck, Garver’s project manager.
Jimmie Austin Seminole Regional Airport is home to 24 based aircraft and Taylor Aviation of Seminole, the airport’s fixed base operator. According to ODAA’s 2026 Aerospace and Defense Economic Impact Study, the airport supports 22 jobs, $1.2 million in payroll and $3.2 million in annual economic impact.
The airport is also part of a community with a strong aerospace presence. ACE Thermal Systems, which has an Oklahoma operation near the airport in Seminole, develops and supports environmental control systems and components for the aviation industry, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Statewide, Oklahoma’s 107 public-use airports support nearly 65,000 jobs, $4.6 billion in payroll and $13.8 billion in annual economic impact. Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industry as a whole generates $52.5 billion in annual economic activity and supports more than 250,000 jobs.
Jimmie Austin Seminole’s terminal is one of many projects across the state through which ODAA, the Federal Aviation Administration and local communities are working together to modernize Oklahoma’s airports and keep them ready for growth.
