Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley visited Mitchell International Airport on March 26 to review the progress of a new air cargo facility, which is one of the airport’s largest development projects in recent decades. The $80 million project, located in the MKE Regional Business Park on the former site of the 440th Airlift Wing, is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
The new cargo hub aims to support economic growth and improve logistics for manufacturers and distributors across Wisconsin. It will include a dedicated air cargo building spanning 333,000 square feet and a new Milwaukee County Highway Maintenance Facility designed to serve both county and state transportation needs. Crowley said, “This is an exciting milestone for Milwaukee County and a major investment in our region’s economic future – all at zero cost to local taxpayers. This facility will create jobs, attract new opportunities for the business community, and further solidify Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport as a key driver of economic growth in Wisconsin.”
The facility is expected to reduce road congestion by shifting freight from trucks to air transport. According to officials, just two major cargo flights per week could remove approximately 600 trucks or trailers from Wisconsin roads each year. The project also positions Milwaukee as an alternative for shippers seeking options beyond more congested Illinois airports.
Airport Director Brian Dranzik said, “This new cargo facility is quickly taking shape and it’s exciting to see the vision becoming reality. When this project is complete, it will give businesses across Wisconsin a faster, more efficient way to move goods around the country and the world. The additional revenue from this project is also a benefit to Airport users as it can help lower costs for airlines to operate here in the future.”
Meanwhile, educational data show that Oak Creek High School had the highest enrollment among Milwaukee County schools during the 2023-24 school year with 2,223 students; HAPA-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 followed with 1,894 students; Franklin High School had 1,606 students according to data from the Department of Public Instruction. Of all students attending county schools that year—116,758 total—33% (38,530) were Black; white students accounted for about 29% (33,860), while Hispanic students made up roughly one-quarter (24.5%, or 28,606) as reported by state education authorities. Multiracial students represented about 5.5% of enrollment during that period according to official statistics, while Pacific Islander students were least represented at just 0.1% based on Department figures.
As work continues toward completion by fall of next year at no cost locally due to its public-private partnership structure with Crow Holdings—the development expects over $2 million annually in landing fees and lease revenues—it remains positioned as both an infrastructure improvement and potential boost for regional commerce.
