The Des Moines Regional Airport recently submitted a proposal to the Newton City Council and Jasper County Board of Supervisors suggesting that both entities could work together in providing a $500,000 contribution toward a more than $575 million terminal expansion project being undertaken at the airport.

The County Board of Supervisors recently denied the request while the Newton City Council has yet to make a decision on how to proceed with the matter.

The airport is seeking $34 million from central Iowa counties and cities to contribute toward the terminal expansion project. However, if the funding goal is not met, the airport does not want the money, according to Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley.

Although the airport has artistic sketches of what the terminal could look like, there are no architectural designs in place at this time. The airport plans to interview prospective architectural firms for the terminal expansion project in March with a decision on the matter to be announced in March.