The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) welcomes thousands of military members and veterans each year, and now there is a special place at the airport for them to call their own. GFIA and SpartanNash officials opened the Military Welcome Center today with a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house. The private space is located pre-security near the Concourse A exit, and is open for active military, veterans, and their families.

“We are proud to offer a quiet space dedicated for our military where they can relax, refresh, and find some comfort before traveling to wherever their next mission or duty station calls,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “We are thankful to have a partner like SpartanNash that not only accommodates our military in numerous supporting roles, but a company that understands the need for this welcome center in West Michigan.”

As the leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries, SpartanNash was a natural fit to present the space and continue its legacy of supporting current and veteran members of the Armed Forces. SpartanNash is a grocery retailer and food distributor headquartered in West Michigan, serving customers in Michigan and throughout the Midwest for more than 100 years.

SpartanNash is also a veteran-friendly employer, with nearly 800 veterans working for the company – in addition to many associates with military affiliation.

“At SpartanNash, we are deeply committed to serving our military heroes and their families, both at home and abroad,” said Dave Staples, SpartanNash President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are honored to present the Military Welcome Center, because it allows us to be a part of the journey of those who served and continue to serve.”

The Military Welcome Center is open to military members, veterans, and their families 24 hours a day. The center offers refreshments, charging stations, an airport arrival/departure monitor, and lounging spaces, as well as veteran profiles and programming offered by WGVU and PBS. There are also interactive maps and murals where military personnel and veterans can pinpoint where they have been stationed or deployed. The new space is part of the airport’s overall Gateway Transformation Project.