$156 Million Investment Modernizes, Streamlines Airport’s Rental Car Experience
Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 24, 2026 – Officials with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport gathered to cut the ribbon on its new $156 million consolidated rent-a-car facility, or CONRAC.
This new state-of-the-art facility will allow the Airport to consolidate its rental car operations in one place, streamlining activities for rental car partners while enhancing the guest experience and increasing capacity. The project is part of the Elevate program, which is transforming the region’s transportation future through an investment of more than $600 million in terminal expansion capital improvement projects.
“As West Michigan grows, having the right infrastructure in place is critical,” said Ford International Airport Authority Board Chair Dan Koorndyk. “This facility represents a significant step forward in our mission to build new spaces that are efficient, long-lasting and environmentally responsible.”
The CONRAC places all rental car operations under one roof. The spacious and modern customer service center will allow guests seamless access to all rental car partners via a new climate-controlled sky bridge, while a quick-turn-around facility for the rental car operators brings vehicle cleaning and fueling operations directly on-site.
Opening to the public on July 8, the CONRAC will have new wayfinding signs to help guests utilizing rental cars understand the new experience.
The move will not only improve the guest experience, but will have significant environmental benefits, including reducing vehicle miles traveled by three miles per vehicle, or a total of 600,000 miles per year. More than 90% of the rental car operations will be removed from the Airport’s roadway system, reducing 500,000 pounds of carbon per year and increasing curbside capacity.
“We are proud to be the first airport in Michigan to have a consolidated rental car facility, showing our commitment to providing the best customer experience we can,” President and CEO Tory Richardson said. “This new facility will support our forecasted passenger demand over the next 20 years, while having an immediate positive impact on both our guests and rental car partners.”
This facility allows the transformation of existing rental car spaces into more close-in covered garage parking for our guests. The CONRAC facility received the full support of Ford International Airport’s rental car partners, representing the following seven brands: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National.
Turner Construction Co. served as the construction manager for the CONRAC with locally based Fishbeck serving as the design project manager and architect of record. More than 2,700 people worked on this project for a total of more than 540,000 hours, providing a significant economic benefit to local construction and design professionals.
The CONRAC features an expansion of the Airport Public Art Program, supported by the Frey Foundation, with ‘Jerry’s Map’. The work of Grand Rapids native Jerry Gretzinger, Jerry’s Map is at the center of the customer service building, stretching 4-stories with 2,441 hand-drawn eight-by-ten-inch panels representing an imaginary place, Gretzinger started creating in 1963.
No local taxpayer dollars are being used to finance any of the projects included in the ELEVATE program, which will be paid for with a combination of federal and state grants, municipal bonds issued by the Airport and user fees.
In addition to the CONRAC, several additional infrastructure improvements under the ELEVATE program are also underway or have been completed, including:
- Relocation of the air traffic control tower, or ATCT, to make way for diverse terminal-area developments such as additional tenant hangars and more parking. The Federal Aviation Administration has selected a new site and completed design of a new tower on the east side of the airport. The ATCT is ready for construction pending federal funding.
- The terminal expansion project, which will expand the west end of the terminal to increase ticket counter and baggage claim capacity, add a consolidated baggage inspection system, or CBIS, to streamline the checked luggage process. Once complete, GRR will be the first small-hub airport in the U.S. to install an individual carrier system, or ICS, for outbound baggage screening.
- The addition of a federal inspection station, or FIS, which will enable the Airport to offer nonstop international commercial passenger flights. The first phase – the addition of a new baggage claim area, restrooms and operational infrastructure – has been completed. These enhancements are being used for domestic flights until the full FIS project is complete.
- The expansion of Concourse A, which opened in 2024 and added eight new gates, increased the number of concession and retail options, added an executive lounge and provided a greater variety of seating options.
- Additional parking capacity to accommodate increased guest traffic.
For more information about the CONRAC and other ongoing ELEVATE developments, please visit FlyFord.org/ELEVATE.
About the Ford Airport
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the second busiest airport in Michigan, serving business and leisure travelers with nonstop and connecting flights on eight airlines. The Ford Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. For more information, visit www.flyford.org or follow the airport on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @FlyGRFord.
