QCAirport Awarded $3.3 Million Federal Grant for Project GATEWAY
May 28, 2026
The Quad Cities International Airport has been awarded $3.3 million in federal grant funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP) to support Phase 2 of Project GATEWAY, the airport’s transformational terminal modernization initiative.
The Airport Terminal Program was established through the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act to help airports across the country modernize aging terminal infrastructure, improve accessibility, enhance the passenger experience and increase terminal sustainability and operational efficiency.
“This investment represents a tremendous win not only for the airport, but for the entire Quad Cities region,” said Benjamin Leischner, A.A.E., executive director, Quad Cities International Airport. “We are incredibly grateful to our federal delegation and elected officials for their continued advocacy and support in helping secure federal funding for this transformational project. Bringing federal dollars back into our community helps reduce the burden on local resources while supporting local contractors, local labor and regional economic activity throughout construction. Project GATEWAY is about creating a terminal experience that reflects the strength and momentum of the Quad Cities region, and this funding helps us continue moving that vision forward.”
“This federal investment in the Quad Cities International Airport is about more than improving a terminal — it’s about investing in the future of our entire region,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen, IL-17. “Project GATEWAY will improve the travel experience for families, strengthen accessibility, support local jobs, and help grow our regional economy. I’m proud to support projects like this that bring federal dollars back home and help modernize the infrastructure communities depend on every day.”
The funding will support part of the largest and most publicly visible phase of the multi-year project, which modernizes nearly every public-facing space from the terminal entrance to the security checkpoint.
Phase 2 of Project GATEWAY includes upgraded finishes and lighting throughout the terminal, expanded and modernized restroom facilities, new lounge and seating areas, nursing mothers’ suites, companion care restrooms, refreshed concessions and retail spaces, improved circulation and passenger flow, and the replacement of the terminal’s original brick flooring with new terrazzo surfaces designed to improve accessibility and traveler comfort. The project also includes enhancements intended to better reflect how passengers travel today while preparing the airport to meet future demand.
Construction on Phase 2 officially began earlier this spring and is expected to continue over approximately 18 months and cost $19 million. Work is being completed in carefully planned phases to ensure the airport remains fully operational throughout construction.
Project GATEWAY is a multi-phase modernization effort focused on improving the overall passenger experience, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability of the airport’s terminal facilities, many of which were originally constructed more than 40 years ago.