Southwest Michigan Regional Airport

09/24/2026

A beautiful morning for travel at our local Southwest Michigan Regional Airport! ☀️✈️

Whether you’re heading out or arriving home, we’re glad to be part of your journey always!

09/19/2026

Community members are always welcomed at our Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Authority Board meetings!

The airport is governed by an Authority Board made up of community representatives selected by the City of Benton Harbor, City of St. Joseph, Lincoln Charter Township, St. Joseph Charter Township, Benton Charter Township and Royalton Township. Each municipality appoints one representative to help govern the airport.

The board includes Chair Brandon Cerecke, Vice Chair Ross Warner, Treasurer Melissa Hahn, Secretary Patricia “Pat” Preston, Ted Kalin and Alex Little.

During the August board meeting, Preston announced that Kirt Fiesbeck would serve as her new City of St. Joseph alternate. Yesterday, we welcomed Fiesbeck to his first meeting in that role!

We encourage community members to attend upcoming meetings, learn more about airport operations and stay involved in the future of this important regional asset.

Visit www.swmiairport.com for more information!

09/18/2026

We are grateful to the local media outlets and community partners who helped share the news that Bruce Allee has been named Interim Director of the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport.

Bruce has been a valued part of the airport team since 2024, and we look forward to his leadership as we continue serving our staff, tenants, pilots, customers and the greater Southwest Michigan community.

Thank you to The Herald-Palladium, News Talk Sports 94.9 WSJM, MoodyontheMarket.com, MailMax - The Good News Paper for Michigan's Great Southwest, The Harbor Current, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and everyone for helping keep our community informed.

Your support helps highlight the important work happening at our airport every day.

09/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Storytime on the Flight Line!

Miss St. Joseph and members of her court read to our young guests as families enjoyed stories and watched airplanes from the terminal.

Join us every third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. This free event is open to all families.

Special thanks to The Pizza & Planes Podcast and Barnstormers Pizza & More for making it possible!

09/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight for Storytime on the Flight Line at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport!

Tonight was special as Miss St. Joseph and members of her court joined us to read to our young guests. Families spent the evening enjoying stories, watching airplanes from the terminal, learning more about aviation!

Here are a few photos from tonight’s Storytime! We loved seeing so many families come out and all the smiling faces around the airport.

And the fun continues! ✈️📚 Storytime on the Flight Line will be held every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at our Southwest Michigan Regional Airport. The event is free and open to families in our community.

A special thank you to The Pizza & Planes Podcast and Barnstormers Pizza & More for helping make Storytime on the Flight Line possible.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next month!

09/03/2026

The Southwest Michigan Regional Airport is pleased to announce that Bruce Allee has been named Interim Director following the announcement during the Airport Authority Board meeting on Aug. 20.

A familiar face to airport staff, tenants and the community, Allee brings experience in airport operations, facilities management and public safety as he helps lead the airport through this transition. ✈️💚

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For Immediate Release
Contact info: Southwest Michigan Regional Airport
Email: [email protected]

Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Names Bruce Allee Interim Director

BENTON HARBOR, MI – The Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Authority Board announced during its August 20 meeting that Bruce Allee will serve as Interim Director of the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport.

Allee has been part of the airport team since October 2024, serving as Office Manager and a member of the winter snow removal crew. As a familiar face to airport staff, tenants and community, he brings firsthand knowledge of the airport’s daily operations to the role.

“Bruce has already worked closely with the airport team and is a familiar face to our staff, tenants and community,” said Airport Authority Board President Brandon Cerecke. “We are confident in his ability to lead us during this transition as we begin our search for the airport’s next director. His experience, steady leadership and commitment to our Southwest Michigan Regional Airport will serve the Authority and our community well, and we are sure he will do great work in this role.”

Allee brings experience in aviation operations, facilities management and public safety. He previously worked as a ramp agent at Corporate Wings FBO at South Bend International Airport, assisting aircraft, flight crews and passengers while supporting fueling and airfield operations. He has also managed maintenance operations for multiple properties and spent more than 30 years in law enforcement, including service with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Butler University.

As Interim Director, Allee will focus on supporting airport staff, strengthening communication with tenants, pilots, vendors and customers, promoting the airport as a place to do business and continuing community outreach. He will also build on recent airport improvements while supporting future growth opportunities at the airport to best serve the community.

Allee also plans to explore ways to strengthen current and future revenue opportunities, support the continued development of a potential flight school and help create an environment that encourages investment in the airport.

The Airport Authority will begin its search for a permanent director in the coming months. In the meantime, the Authority remains committed to providing strong leadership and maintaining the airport’s role as an important transportation, economic and emergency-response resource for Southwest Michigan. As the airport continues engaging community members, residents are encouraged to reach out with questions or feedback by emailing [email protected].

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Byline: Nicholas Gunn, Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Communications Coordinator

Photo: Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Interim Director, Bruce Allee pictured at the airport.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Gunn

08/15/2026

The Southwest Michigan Regional Airport was proud to recently host the Michigan Wing of the Civil Air Patrol for Operation Whirlwind, a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) involving air, ground, and communications teams alongside multiple outside agencies.

This training exercise simulated a National Weather Service forecast indicating conditions favorable for a potential F4 tornado impacting Southwest Michigan. Teams put their search, rescue, communications, and emergency response skills to the test in a hands-on training environment.

Local fire departments also participated, creating valuable opportunities for cross-agency coordination and collaboration.

Training exercises like Operation Whirlwind help ensure our emergency response partners are prepared to work together when real emergencies arise.

We are grateful to the Michigan Civil Air Patrol and all participating agencies for their commitment to preparedness and their continued service to Southwest Michigan. We look forward to future opportunities to work together! ✈️🚒

08/15/2026

08/06/2026

The Southwest Michigan Regional Airport acknowledges the results of the Aug. 4 primary election, in which voters approved the renewal of the airport millage for an additional 10 years.

We appreciate all community members who participated in the election process and shared their perspectives throughout the discussion. Whether you supported or opposed the millage renewal, your feedback was heard and remains valuable as we plan for the future. ✈️💚

For Immediate Release
Contact info: Southwest Michigan Regional Airport
Email: [email protected]

Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Looks Ahead Following Voter Approval of Millage

BENTON HARBOR, MI – The Southwest Michigan Regional Airport acknowledges the results of the Aug. 4 primary election, in which voters approved the renewal of the airport millage for an additional 10 years in the City of St. Joseph, Lincoln Charter Township, St. Joseph Charter Township, Benton Charter Township and Royalton Township.

Airport officials thanked all community members who participated in the election process and shared their perspectives. With the millage renewal approved, each of the five participating municipalities will continue to maintain representation on the Airport Authority Board, alongside the City of Benton Harbor.

“Whether you supported or opposed the airport millage renewal, we listened,” said Airport Board President Brandon Cerecke. “The public discussion surrounding this issue provided valuable feedback that will help guide the airport’s future. We remain committed to serving the entire community and being responsible stewards of the public trust.”

The millage renewal will provide continued funding to support airport operations, infrastructure improvements, safety initiatives and economic development efforts throughout Southwest Michigan. The airport supports emergency medical flights, organ transport, Angel Flight missions, law enforcement operations, U.S. Coast Guard activities and emergency response efforts. As the region’s only all-weather airport, it also serves as an important transportation and economic asset, supporting local businesses, tourism and aviation education opportunities.

“The election is now behind us,” said Cerecke. “Our responsibility is to continue providing safe, reliable service and to ensure the airport remains a valuable asset for Southwest Michigan for years to come. We are proud of the dedicated team that serves this airport every day and look forward to continuing our work together as we build on the airport’s success and serve the needs of our region.”

Cerecke also thanked the many individuals and organizations who helped keep voters informed throughout the process. “I would obviously like to thank Nicholas Gunn, Melissa Hahn, Arthur Havlicek of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, Marla Schneider of Cornerstone Alliance, Eleanor Reece of Whirlpool Corporation and the many others for their efforts to provide factual information and community outreach.”

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Byline: Nicholas Gunn, Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Communications Coordinator
Photo: Airport Board Meeting