Drone Park Planned for Battle Creek Executive Airport to Receive $7M in State Funding

The 200-acre site will support urban and advanced air mobility manufacturing, operations, maintenance, repair, training, and more.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, August 08, 2023 at 01:39 PM ET

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Duncan Aviation’s maintenance hub at Battle Creek Executive Airport. [Courtesy: Duncan Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Michigan is establishing MICH-AIR, a 200-acre "drone park" at Battle Creek Executive Airport, after securing a $7 million state budget allocation.
The facility aims to be a central hub for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry, accommodating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and eVTOL aircraft for manufacturing, operations, maintenance, and training, primarily targeting large aviation and defense companies.
MICH-AIR is expected to create hundreds of high-paying jobs and position Battle Creek and Michigan at the forefront of the AAM sector, aligning with the state's broader initiatives in drone technology and autonomous delivery.

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California has Silicon Valley. North Carolina has the Research Triangle. And soon, Michigan will have MICH-AIR.

In development since 2018, the proposed 200-acre “drone park” now looks like a sure thing after Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), the nonprofit business and economic development arm for the city of Battle Creek, received a $7 million allocation in the state’s 2024 budget. Now, the site at 97-year-old Battle Creek Executive Airport (KBTL) could serve as a hub for the emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) industry.