City Issues Will-Serve Letter to Support Economic Readiness at Monroe County Airport

The City of Bloomington has issued a will-serve letter for Monroe County Airport, supporting infrastructure readiness and future aviation-related economic development at one of the region’s key public assets.

Monroe County Airport supports business travel, emergency response, visitor access, aviation services, and connections to regional employers and institutions. By clarifying that sanitary sewer service can be considered for airport-related uses, the City is helping make the airport more ready to attract businesses, create jobs, and bring more investment to Bloomington and Monroe County.

“This is what economic development looks like before the ribbon cutting,” Mayor Kerry Thomson said. “It is infrastructure, partnership, and planning that make future jobs and investment possible. Monroe County Airport is a regional economic resource, and this step helps make sure Bloomington and Monroe County are ready to compete for opportunities that strengthen our community.”

A will-serve letter is a utility service document. In this case, the City of Bloomington Utilities Department has confirmed that it can accept sanitary sewer service for airport parcels at 960 S. Kirby Road, subject to approved terms and conditions. The approval remains subject to Utilities engineering review, infrastructure requirements, capacity findings, and other applicable conditions.

“We are grateful to Mayor Thomson, City Utilities, and the City of Bloomington for taking this important step in support of Monroe County Airport,” said Carlos Laverty, Airport Director. “This will-serve letter helps remove uncertainty around future airport-related development and strengthens our ability to compete for aviation, aerospace, defense, and other compatible business opportunities. Infrastructure readiness is not always visible to the public, but it is often what determines whether a community is truly prepared to attract jobs and investment.”

The letter does not approve a specific development project, airport expansion, or sewer connection. Any future proposal must still complete the applicable engineering, permitting, funding, review and approval processes. 

The action comes as cities across Indiana are operating in a changing fiscal environment following Senate Enrolled Act 1, or SEA 1, which is expected to reduce revenue available to local governments. As traditional revenue growth becomes more constrained, infrastructure readiness and economic development become increasingly important tools for supporting future jobs, investment, and tax base growth. 

“SEA 1 is part of the fiscal landscape, but this decision is about doing the right thing for a regional economic asset, supporting City-County partnership, and creating clearer conditions for future jobs and investment,” Mayor Thomson said.

The City will provide additional information as future airport-related proposals move through the appropriate review processes.