Lt. Gov. Antone attends ‘Skybridge’ Groundbreaking

May 5, 2023 

Emma Hughes

Gila River Indian News

Gila River Indian Community’s Lt. Gov. Monica Antone attended the groundbreaking of the newest development project at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on April 18.

Formerly known as the Williams Air Force Base, the airport served as a U.S. Military base until 1993, when it became Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Lt. Gov. Antone serves on the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Board of Directors (PMGAA). The PMGAA’s role is to develop, reuse, operate, and maintain the former Williams Air Force Base airport property and facilities.

The Gila River Indian Community, the Cities of Mesa, Phoenix, Apache Junction, and the towns of Queen Creek and Gilbert all comprise the PMGAA. The Community also owns part of the land, which includes the airport, hotel, and golf course, in the area around the airport.

Following a board meeting that morning, members and staff gathered on-site for the groundbreaking for SkyBridge Arizona. The development features two 250,000-square-foot buildings for commercial and retail space.

“We have designed and are developing SkyBridge Arizona for the unique needs of those operating in the aviation, air cargo, e-commerce, manufacturing and defense sectors,” said Ariel Picker, president of SkyBridge Arizona and SkyPlus Development. 

Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson, chair of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, stated, “We appreciate the commitment of SkyBridge to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, celebrate this latest groundbreaking and look forward to the many benchmark celebrations to come.”

“It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come,” said Lt. Gov. Antone, who shared her experience of living on the base while attending school at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus located next to the airport. 

She lauded former GRIC Gov. Mary V. Thomas, the first woman to be elected governor, for her work in obtaining Community rights to the area and providing housing for members to pursue their education.  

Lt. Gov. Antone also received a one-on-one tour of the new Air Traffic Control tower constructed last year. It is twice the size of last tower and offers room for up to eight traffic controllers.