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Steven Baldwin, President\/CEO of SBA, noted that this was\nthe firm\u2019s fourth recent FAA approval for a governance transfer for its\nclients; and it is the second in Michigan following the 2016 governance transfer\nfor the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids. SBA is the\nforemost consulting firm in the country for aviation governance reviews and\nsubsequent successful FAA transfer applications. Other airports that the firm\nhas recently assisted in transfers include Syracuse Hancock International\nAirport in New York; Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Michigan;\nAsheville Regional Airport in North Carolina; and today the Cherry Capital\nAirport in Traverse City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, SBA has conducted many other governance reviews\nand analyses for a wide variety of airports including Battle Creek Airport in\nMichigan (in progress), Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire,\nLynchburg Regional Airport in Virginia, and St. Cloud Regional Airport in\nMinnesota, among others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would like to congratulate our client the Northwest\nRegional Airport Authority on this important milestone. We are honored to be\ntheir valued business partner and help them achieve this important goal,\u201d\nstated Mr. Baldwin. \u201cGetting FAA approval to transfer ownership and operation\nof the Cherry Capital Airport from the previous bi-County Commission to the new\nAuthority will allow TVC to operate more efficiently and effectively while\nsupporting their strategic goals to increase growth and revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TVC governance transfer was the outgrowth of a\ncomprehensive strategic planning process SBA conducted for the airport\nbeginning in 2017. An initial review of the then-current governance structure\n(where the airport was owned and operated jointly by Grand Traverse and\nLeelanau Counties) highlighted some operational issues that warranted further\nanalysis. An in-depth governance review followed with extensive stakeholder\ncoordination and input, which resulted in the Commission recommending a\ntransfer to a regional Authority to the two owner Counties. After community\ninput, the Counties supported the recommendation for a transfer and SBA began\nwork with all parties involved to develop the extensive materials necessary for\nthe application. The application was submitted to the FAA in August and\napproved in September for an effective date of October 1, 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to thank the Baldwin team\u2014along with everyone\ninvolved\u2014for their help achieving this important goal,\u201d said Kevin Klein, NRAA\nChief Executive Officer. \u201cThe transition to a regional Authority will allow the\nCherry Capital Airport to have a greater focus on key strategic initiatives and\noperate at the highest levels of effectiveness, especially regarding aviation\ngrowth as well as non-aeronautical revenue development.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Baldwin noted that SBA was happy to facilitate the\ntransition to the new Authority for TVC, and that SBA looks forward a continued\npartnership with the airport as it begins its new tenure under the Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n