HUNTINGBURG — The Dubois County Airport Authority will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 31, to celebrate the official opening of the new $7.2 million Frosty Jones Terminal Building at Huntingburg Regional Airport.
The state-of-the-art facility replaces legacy infrastructure to serve as a modern front door for the area, designed to boost regional business aviation and expand educational opportunities across Southwestern Indiana.
The ribbon-cutting event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. EST, followed by light refreshments and public terminal tours until 11:00 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive around 8:30 a.m. to allow adequate time for parking. Public parking will be available along the T-hangars, county roads, and in designated lots, with ramp parking reserved strictly for official speakers.
A 15-Year Vision Realized
Fifteen years in the making, the terminal was funded through a combination of federal, state, local, and private support:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): $3.8 million
- Dubois County Airport Authority: $1.6 million
- Dubois County EDIT Funding (Loan): $1.0 million
- Dubois County Council: $500,000
- Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT): $187,000
- Regional & Private Donors: Contributions include $100,000 from RIF, Inc., $40,000 from Grow Dubois County, and $10,000 donations from private supporters.
The total project scope encompasses $1.5 million in site dirt work, a $100,000 building pad, a $5 million terminal structure, a $200,000 parking lot, and a $1.2 million entrance drive. Highlighting regional economic collaboration, 52% of project contracts were awarded to Dubois County contractors, while 48% went to regional firms. In addition, terminal furniture was donated by local manufacturers, including OFS, Kimball, Indiana Furniture, Jasper Group, Dubois Wood, and Best Home Furnishings.
Honoring Heritage and Supporting Growth
The facility is named in honor of Duff, Indiana native Frosty Jones, who founded the original Huntingburg Airport in 1938.
The updated terminal directly supports major corporate tenants—such as Kimball, OFS Brands, Jasper Engines, Best Chairs, and MasterBrand—and their global supply chains. It also expands classroom and meeting space for the Patoka Valley Career Technical Education Center’s STEM program, serving over 175 high school aviation students across nine school corporations and five counties.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Schedule
- 9:00 a.m.: Opening Welcome by Airport Manager Travis McQueen and Presentation of Colors/Pledge of Allegiance by the Civil Air Patrol.
- 9:06 a.m.: Introduction by Dubois County Airport Authority Board President Ken Schnaus.
- 9:15 a.m.: Remarks from dignitaries, including Governor Mike Braun, Angela Hostetter (Dubois County Chamber), Nick Kowalkowski (Woolpert), and Marcus Dial (INDOT Office of Aviation).
- 9:40 a.m.: Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony.
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Light refreshments, coffee, and guided terminal tours.
