FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — St. Lucie County is preparing to expand the footprint of the Treasure Coast International Airport by adding a new hotel to the grounds. County officials announced they will soon begin accepting proposals for the project as part of a broader effort to attract commercial airline service to the region.
The county expects to release a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) within the next three months. Once the bids are in, the review and approval process is anticipated to take between six and nine months. This timeline comes as the airport works toward a long-term goal of hosting its first commercial flights in the near future.
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Finding the perfect spot for the development is a primary focus for the county. Much of the airfield is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which mandates that specific areas be used strictly for aviation-related purposes. However, the airport’s massive size provides significant flexibility for new construction that does not interfere with flight operations.
“We have to make sure it’s in the right location,” said St. Lucie County spokesperson Erick Gill. “The airport there, certain parts of the airfield which are, you know, we’re funded by the FAA, and that has to be used for aviation purposes only. But then, you know, there is close to 4,000 acres out there at our international airport, so we have plenty of room to develop.”
While the hotel project is moving forward, other expansion efforts are facing temporary hurdles. Gill noted that ongoing discussions with several commercial airlines are currently on hold due to the impact of the government shutdown, which has slowed the regulatory progress necessary to finalize new service agreements.