State’s first consolidated rental car facility being constructed in Grand Rapids

Construction

Apr 15

Photo courtesy of Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is enhancing its travel experience by constructing Michigan's first consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC). The $156 million investment will replace the existing rental car operations located on the first floor of the parking garage, freeing up approximately 1,000 parking spaces for guests.

Designed to accommodate 20 years of projected rental car growth, the CONRAC will increase capacity by 30 percent and bring all rental car operations under one roof. The state-of-the-art facility will centralize customer service, vehicle pick-up and drop-off, fueling, and detailing, all within an enclosed structure connected to the terminal.

"We know our community is hungry for more close and covered parking spaces," said Casey Ries, Chief Asset Development Officer, Gerald R. Ford International Airport. "The CONRAC is an improvement for the guest experience."

The project will remove over 90 percent of car rental operations from the roadways, further optimizing guest traffic flow.

This project has a $220 million economic impact on the West Michigan region, helping to stimulate job creation and retention during its two-and-a-half years of construction.

Turner Construction Company serves as the project's construction manager, and Kent Companies is a key subcontractor. According to Dave Snyder, Project Executive, Turner Construction Company, 85 percent of the companies working on this project are local. To date, the project has supported over 900 construction jobs, with approximately 288,000 hours of work already dedicated to the project.

The project broke ground in May 2023 and is expected to be completed next spring.