Boulder Municipal Airport – Economic Vitality, Public Safety, and the Need for Resolution

Dear Mayor Brockett and Members of City Council,

On behalf of the Boulder Chamber, we write regarding today’s discussion on the future of the Boulder Municipal Airport (BMA).

After years of study, community engagement, and ongoing debate, we believe Boulder has reached a critical inflection point. Continued uncertainty about the airport’s future is now a risk in itself—to our economy, to public safety planning, and to the City’s ability to make sound long-term investments. It is time to provide clear and durable direction.

The Boulder Municipal Airport is a meaningful economic asset supporting jobs, business activity, and industries central to Boulder’s innovation economy—including aerospace, research, and advanced technology. At the same time, available analyses may undercount the airport’s full contribution. For example, companies such as Shotover—supporting approximately 50 Boulder-based employees—are not fully reflected in current data.

Beyond direct employment, the airport provides critical infrastructure that supports business access, regional connectivity, and Boulder’s ability to compete for and retain high-value industries.

Equally important, the airport plays a vital role in public safety and emergency response. As Boulder and the broader region face increasing wildfire risk and climate-driven emergencies, the airport supports aerial firefighting, disaster coordination, and rapid deployment capabilities that are essential to community resilience.

These functions are not theoretical—they are part of the airport’s core value today and will only grow in importance in the years ahead.

Looking ahead, infrastructure like the Boulder Municipal Airport will become increasingly valuable—supporting emerging industries, enhancing wildfire and disaster response capabilities, and positioning Boulder to compete in a rapidly evolving innovation economy.

In communities like Palo Alto Airport—located at the center of Silicon Valley—similarly scaled municipal airports serve as critical infrastructure, enabling high-value business travel, supporting innovation-driven companies, and strengthening emergency response capabilities.

From a fiscal perspective, this is also a question of whether Boulder will leverage available federal resources or rely more heavily on local funding. Access to federal investment allows the City to maintain and modernize infrastructure while reducing pressure on local taxpayers. Choosing not to utilize these resources carries real financial tradeoffs and limits the City’s ability to invest in other priorities.

Finally, the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the airport’s future creates challenges for business confidence, investment, and workforce stability. Employers and industries rely on predictable infrastructure and clear signals from their local government. Providing that clarity is essential to maintaining a resilient and competitive economy.

The Boulder Chamber encourages City Council to:

• Bring resolution to this long-running issue
• Support continued operation of the Boulder Municipal Airport as a critical economic and public safety asset
• Leverage available federal funding to strengthen infrastructure and reduce local fiscal burden

After years of study and debate, this is an opportunity for Boulder to move from uncertainty to action—leveraging available resources and providing the clarity our community and economy need.