Utility construction will service more than 165 acres of airport employment and industrial lands, opening the door to future aerospace, logistics and manufacturing development.
Image courtesy of Kelowna International Airport.
The federal government is committing up to $22.4 million toward a new infrastructure project at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) designed to unlock more than 165 acres of airport employment and industrial lands for future development.
Funding for the Economic Enabling Infrastructure Project will come through the Direct Delivery stream of the federal Build Communities Strong Fund.
The construction program will install new water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, electrical and communications infrastructure on the airport’s East Lands, where servicing constraints currently limit development. An initial phase will provide servicing to approximately 90 acres of development-ready land.
The infrastructure is intended to support future aerospace, aviation, logistics, advanced manufacturing, technology and training facilities, creating the potential for subsequent private-sector construction as serviced lands become available.
“This investment will help unlock new private-sector development, support the growth of Canada’s aerospace sector and strengthen YLW’s role as a gateway for innovation, trade and investment,” said Kelowna International Airport CEO Sam Samaddar.
Kelowna MP and Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr said the investment will help attract new companies to the airport lands
“This investment will unlock valuable airport lands, attract new investment and aerospace companies, and create skilled Canadian jobs,” he said.
The federal contribution is being made through the $51-billion Build Communities Strong Fund. Project funding remains conditional on the signing of a contribution agreement and completion of applicable requirements, including Indigenous consultation and environmental assessment obligations.
The airport project is notable for contractors because the initial utility work is intended to act as enabling infrastructure for a much larger build-out of employment lands, potentially generating additional industrial and commercial construction opportunities around YLW.