Tag Archives: Dan Koorndyk

Gerald R Ford International Airport opens new cell phone lot

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , , , ,
The new Cell Phone & Ride Share Lot at the Gerald R. Ford International Airpot.

With an eye towards helping to reduce congestion at its terminal building, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) has opened a new parking area for those waiting to pick up passengers.

 

The Cell Phone & Ride Share Lot includes 30 spaces for individuals waiting for passenger arrivals, along with 30 spaces to accommodate staging for ride share providers.

 

 

The new lot is located off Patterson Avenue as you enter the airport headed north, making an immediate right on Van Laar Drive, and another immediate right on Pederson Court. Directional signage is in place to guide new visitors to the area.

 

 

“This expanded area will give those customers looking to enter and exit quickly, an opportunity to park in this new lot for a short time period while waiting for their arriving guest to call them,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “In addition, we are excited to finish a partnership with our rideshare partners to work together to solidify that added service at our airport.”

 

The new Cell Phone and Ride Share lot is located in the lower left corner of the map.

The Ford Airport board approved the construction project in April. Increased passenger and construction traffic prompted the relocation and construction of the new lot.

 

 

“We are excited to open this new, expanded space for our growing passenger base,” said GFIA Board Chairman Dan Koorndyk. “At the Ford Airport we are all about making things easier for our passengers so when it comes to giving them more transportation options, we are happy to make that happen.”

 

 

Other renovations in the area include new LED lighting to improve safety, and updated signage. The lot is free with a limit of 30 minutes which will be enforced.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is ready to fly

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Hard News, , , , ,
Kent County Board of Commissioners
Official on July 1, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority officially began operating. It will over see the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority (GFIAA) is officially operating. The Authority transition was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Friday, July 1, with support from Kent County Commissioners and government officials.

 

For 60 years, Kent County owned and operated the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, through its Department of Aeronautics, with major policy matters decided by the Kent County Board of Commissioners through the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Board. The transition to an Airport Authority will transfer governance to a regional Airport Authority Board, appointed by the County Board of Commissioners.

 

“This is a historical day for our region, our County, and our Airport,” said Roger Morgan, GFIAA Board Chairman and Kent County Commissioner. “The transfer to an Authority has been a goal of our Board’s for several years, and to see the teamwork, the collaboration of organizations, and the FAA’s support has been truly remarkable. We had a smooth process along the way, and we are grateful to each and every person who assisted us in this transition.”

 

The transfer to an Authority creates an independent governing enterprise whose sole purpose is the future development of the Airport, greater levels of economic development and proactive commercial revenue development, a stronger regional focus to respond to air service needs, and a more entrepreneurial, business, and hospitality management focus – driven by customer service.

 

The Authority Legislation was signed by Governor Rick Snyder on June 30, 2015, the Kent County Board of Commissioners formed the Regional Authority and adopted the Articles of Incorporation on August 27, 2015, and Kent County and the Authority signed final operating and lease agreements on December 17, 2015. The final approval of the Authority came from the FAA, which granted and signed the Authority’s operating certificate today.

 

The transition came about with full support from the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

 

“Kent County prides itself on making decisions that are best for the entire community,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a regional asset for all of West Michigan.  In that regard, the County knows the best long-term move for the Airport is to be operated by a regional authority that includes representation from outside of the County.  This is another great example of collaboration by Kent County at many levels.”

 

“Kent County Commissioner Dan Koorndyk was instrumental in this transition, and we sincerely appreciate all of his support, along with County Board Chair Jim Saafeld and the entire commission,” said Morgan.  “We also would not have completed this changeover without our amazing employees. Each and every one of them keeps our Airport operating day in and day out, and we have far succeeded expectations in air service, customer service, construction, and safety because of their efforts.”