The Duluth Airport Authority on Wednesday said the facility supports more than 4,000 full-time jobs annually, contributing $284.8 million in labor income and $1.4 billion in output to Minnesota’s economy.
“DLH is an essential economic driver in the Arrowhead region. DLH and our business tenants providevaluable services and connect our communities to the world,” said Tom Werner, Duluth Airport Authority executive director. “As the Duluth Airport Authority pursues additional capital investments, it is important that we understand the lasting and far-reaching impact of the airport and businesses that operate at DLH. This economic impact study shows our positive impact on the region and beyond.”
Measuring the impact
The Authority commissioned the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UMD’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics to evaluate DLH’s impact in
terms of airport management, airport business tenants, capital investments and visitor spending viacommercial and general aviation. DLH airport activities in 2024, including general aviation and commercial visitors, supported 3,000+ jobs, contributed $208+ million to the state’s economy, generated $1.2 billion in annual spending, supported 943 additional jobs in supporting industries, paid $76.8 million in labor income, and added $233.9 million in output to the state’s economy.
Planning the airport’s future
The DAA has several capital improvement projects planned for DLH in the coming years, with funding from state, federal, airport and private investments. Over the next five years, the airport plans to spend nearly $150 million on capital improvement projects. They call for replacing the air traffic control tower, building new hangars and reconstructing the primary parallel taxiway.
Investments at DLH will average nearly $30 million per year until 2029 and will support 317 jobs, $24.7million in labor income and $61.1 million in output each year.
