On November 28, 1923, the City of Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce unanimously voted (see attached) to establish an aviation field in Battle Creek. Less than a year later, on September 24, 1924, they signed a five year lease on a 140 acre farm with an option to purchase. Grading of the field began quickly and the "Battle Creek Airport" officially opened August 28, 1925.
The Battle Creek Airport was renamed as the W.K. Kellogg Airport on June 20, 1928 after W.K. Kellogg donated $60,000 to purchase the land option and pay for airport improvements and equipment. At that time Mr. Kellogg expressed his preference that the airport not be his namesake. Despite this preference, the airport has carried his name for more than 90 years.
On September 14, 1947, the City Commission renamed the airport as "W.K. Kellogg Regional Airfield." Over the course of the last 95 years the City's airport has been referred to by a number of similar names while serving as an effective economic development tool for the City.
1925 - Battle Creek Airport
1928 - W.K. Kellogg Airport
1942 - Battle Creek-Kellogg Municipal Airport
1945 - Kellogg Field
1947 - W.K. Kellogg Regional Airfield
1963 - Kellogg Airfield
The airport's Strategic Business Plan, completed in 2017, serves as a planning tool, management tool and communications tool. New mission and vision statements were developed by the comprehensive planning team and are listed below.
Mission: To maintain and leverage safe, secure, and efficient infrastructure that 1) fosters an environment for diverse, high-quality aviation products, services, and facilities 2) sustains and enhances economic development and 3) connect the Battle Creek community to the national air transportation system and the world.
Vision: The airport will be the local and international airport of choice in the Southwest Michigan Region for aviation education, general aviation, military, air cargo, and non-scheduled air carrier services, while fully developing and utilizing the airport's assets in a financially self-sufficient manner.
As per the Strategic Business Plan in April 2018 the City engaged the services of Weidemann Associates to develop a new brand for the airport. During the process a long list of names was considered with Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field being the final selection.
The new name is logical in terms of reaching out to itinerant jet traffic across the U.S. with a fresh “new and improved” image, and by using the term “Executive” it conveys the primacy of business aviation at the Airport and encourages all sectors of aviation to enjoy the first class facilities available for their needs. Lastly, the new name reflects the original intent of the pioneers who planned the airport while maintaining the connection to the legacy left by W.K. Kellogg who provided funds to purchase the land.
The attached pdf contains two variations of the new logo developed to support the new brand.
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