Mane Street Memphis: Memphis Airport lands $16.1 million for terminal improvements

Is it just me or did January fly by?

We're a week away from Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, as some call it. As an East Coaster, I find it fascinating how much different the pre-Lent festivities are here.

Back home in Pennsylvania we tend to celebrate Fastnacht Day. It's a Pennsylvania Dutch thing. Most places will have potato doughnuts or some combination of fried dough using potato starch with loads of powdered sugar. Then, of course, Fridays are reserved for community "Fish Fries."

Here, I am always amazed at how hard it is to find any Fastnacht or potato doughnuts during Fat Tuesday. But the geographic tradeoff is, of course, King Cake. The Mardi Gras-inspired sweet is something of a tougher find back home in Pennsylvania.

Personally, I'd prefer both next week.

In the meantime, though, here's what we have cooking this week in Mane Street Memphis:

Memphis Airport nets $16.1 million for terminal improvements

On Feb. 5, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Memphis International Airport $16,135,955 in grant funding. The funding is part of the federal Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program. (The program is under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.)

"This funding is vital to Memphis International Airport's upcoming terminal modernization project," Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority President and CEO Terry Blue said in a statement. "It will also benefit our general aviation operations by helping fund the construction of a new terminal at Charles W. Baker Airport and additional infrastructure projects at General DeWitt Spain Airport."

Both the Charles W. Baker and General DeWitt Spain airports received a combined $294,000 in funding for infrastructure improvements.

The $16.1 million for Memphis International Airport will be used to improve the facility's terminal including expansions at the ticketing and bagging areas along with security improvements. A portion of the funds will be used in part of the airport's ongoing Terminal Modernization program.

In 2018, the Memphis International Airport unveiled its master plan update for significant improvements and modernization throughout the existing terminals and facilities. In 2022, the airport completed its $245 million renovation of Concourse B. In addition, the airport also opened its $300 million deicing facility in 2022.

Since 2022, the Memphis International Airport has received more than $49 million in funding via the AIG program. To date, the AIG program has awarded more than $9 billion in funding for airports nationally.

MEM-AIG funding totals since 2022:

• 2022: $17,290,889 | two separate grants worth $6.3 million and $10.89 million, respectively

• 2023: $16,356,569

• 2024: $16,135,955

"The airport is one of the most important economic anchors in our community, and it facilitates all sorts of activity for millions of Americans every year," U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen said. "Increased infrastructure funding means increased travel and output, more jobs and a better experience for everyone who travels through our city. We would never see this level of federal investment without the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)."

In 2021, Cohen and former Rep. Jim Cooper were the only two congressmen or senators from Tennessee who voted in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Barnhart Crane & Rigging nets two more 2024 acquisitions

Memphis-based Barnhart Crane & Rigging has acquired two more companies.

On Jan. 29, Barnhart Crane announced it had acquired Tupelo, Mississippi-based Baxter Crane and Rigging. In addition, on Feb. 5, the Memphis-based company announced it had purchased Iowa-based CR Holland Crane Service.

The moves are the third such acquisitions in 2024 for Barnhart Crane and sixth since May 2023.

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On Jan. 8, Barnhart announced it had acquired South Carolina-based White Crane Co. In 2023, the Memphis-based company announced it had acquired three other companies between May and October, including Illinois-based Bollmeier Crane, St. Louis-based Taylor Crane Rental and Minnesota-based Armstrong Crane and Rigging Co.

The Baxter Crane acquisition includes crane rental service, equipment and staff, however, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"For nearly two decades, our family-owned company has met the needs of industry across North Mississippi," Baxter Crane President Bo Baxter said in a statement. "We believe Barnhart is the perfect fit for us, not only because of their extensive resources but because of their work philosophy and how they treat their customers and employees."

Barnhart district manager Shane Bills said the Baxter site will serve as the third Mississippi field office, joining Barnhart's other locations in Columbus and Jackson.

With the purchase of CR Holland Crane Services, Barnhart will now have five Iowa-based branches.

Barnhart was founded in 1969 in Memphis. The private company has more than 50 locations throughout 28 states.

Downtown law firm Spicer Rudstrom relocates office

On Jan. 29, Spicer Rudstrom relocated its Memphis offices from 119 S. Main St. in Downtown to 6060 Primacy Parkway just outside the Interstate 240 loop.

"As we grow, this move is aimed at providing easier access for clients, staff and attorneys, as well as allowing our team a better starting point to reach all of our clients in the greater Shelby County area," Spicer Rudstrom managing member Clint Woodfin said.

The law firm first made the relocation announcement on Jan. 25. Spicer Rudstrom has offices in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Germantown LLC buys Kennedy View Shopping Center

Germantown-based DKD Park Avenue LLC bought the Kennedy View Shopping Center in East Memphis for $2.27 million.

The 22,000-square-foot shopping center first opened in 1951. The shopping center includes Las Delicias Mexican Restaurant and The Castle Mediterranean Restaurant. The 1.417-acre property includes two parcels located at 3980 and 4002 Park Avenue, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.

Dede Malmo of Malmo Memphis Real Estate represented the seller, Commodore Realty, LLC.

Mane Street Memphis is a bi-weekly commercial real estate and economic development roundup.

Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 or via X: @neilStrebig.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Airport's terminal improvement project gets funding boost