The City of Sioux Center, along with the City of Orange City and Sioux County, was honored for joint efforts to create the Sioux County Regional Airport with a 2019 All-Star Community Award from the Iowa League of Cities.
The All-Star Community Awards are designed to acknowledge and encourage excellence and innovation in local government. The awards recognize and share Iowa’s best public service ideas and demonstrate that those involved in local government are progressive, caring, and committed to their local communities. Sioux Center was one of three Iowa communities selected for this year’s prestigious award.
The new Sioux County Regional Airport, set midway between Sioux Center and Orange City, is a testament to 20 years of collaboration and a vision for economic strength for the region, according to Sioux Center City Manager Scott Wynja.
“The development of the Sioux County Regional Airport is not only a great economical tool to recruit business and industry to our region, but it also provides the opportunity for existing businesses to expand and grow,” Wynja said.
Wynja, Mayor David Krahling, Assistant City Manager Dennis Dokter, and community leaders from Orange City accepted the honor at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference in Dubuque Sept. 26.
The Sioux County Regional Airport, which opened nearly one year ago, routinely serves multiple jets each week, frequent charter flights and heavy agricultural usage. Business jets that previously had to fly into Sioux Falls or other airports now are able to land on the regional airport’s 5,500-foot runway and can use it in all weather, using instrument landing approaches. The airport’s maintenance and inspection services and pilot/flight training are in high demand. In addition, multiple businesses are based on the airfield.
PHOTOS: Top - Local collaboration on the Sioux County Regional Airport was honored with the 2019 Iowa All-Star Community Award. Left to right – Mark Gaul, Community Development Director, City of Orange City; Kent Anderson, Finance Director of Orange City; Duane Feekes, City Administrator of Orange City, Sioux Center Mayor David Krahling, Sioux Center City Manager Scott Wynja, and Sioux Center Assistant City Manager Dennis Dokter accept the honor from Scott Neuman, Iowa League of Cities, Board President.
Bottom - A business jet begins its takeoff at the Sioux County Regional Airport.