By Elijah Fenton
Local NEWS Network has announced a major investment in the future of advertising at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, securing a five-year extension to its advertising concession contract and committing more than $110,000 in state-of-the-art upgrades.
The upgrades are designed to bring the look, feel, and capabilities of airport advertising in line with those of major airports and the modern aesthetics of the airport’s ongoing remodel.
As part of this project, Local NEWS Network partnered with i5LED, an award-winning direct-view LED display manufacturer, to deliver two 9×5-foot LED video walls with an ultra-clear 1.5-millimeter pitch, installed back-to-back on the new baggage claim carousel.
These dynamic digital displays greet arriving passengers with a clean and engaging experience. Once the remodel is complete, it will be highly visible to travelers queuing for TSA. Together, they are expected to provide engaging impressions to 550,000 passengers every year.
Local NEWS Network also installed 4 illuminated tension fabric banner displays in the baggage claim area, with additional 5 units set to go live in the rental car corridor by December 2025.
“When Laurie recommended moving forward with LED video displays that would deliver a similar experience to what passengers are used to seeing in large hub airports, we were excited to see her vision through,” said Tony Vicari, Director of the Durango-La Plata County Airport. “LNN worked closely with DRO and its architects to determine the best sizing, resolution, and installation approach. We appreciate Laurie and her team’s vision and given her more than 14 years of strong performance at DRO, the Airport Commission agreed to extend the LNN contract with the agreement that LNN would invest over $110,000 in this modernization effort.”
To finance the equipment purchase, Local NEWS Network worked with First Southwest Bank to secure an equipment loan that will position the organization for growth.
“We are pleased to support businesses like Local NEWS Network,” said Kent Curtis, CEO of First Southwest Bank. “Laurie is modernizing her operations and creating new, innovative advertising opportunities in our community. Supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners is central to our mission and we look forward to seeing this project succeed.”
Equally important, every advertiser at DRO is a local business or organization in the Four Corners area, including the Southern Ute Casino and Resort, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Fort Lewis College, CommonSpirit, Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado Outback Adventures, Durango Hot Springs, Pagosa Hot Springs, San Juan Regional Medical Center, City of Farmington, The Wells Group, Will Construction, JT Builder, Mantell-Hecathorn, Fired Up Pizza, and many more.
“We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to provide outstanding advertising venues for businesses and organizations from Durango, Farmington, and Pagosa—our airport’s key feeder communities,” said Laurie Sigillito, CEO of Local NEWS Network. “These partnerships allow us to showcase the strength of our regional economy while also celebrating and sharing the Four Corners story with visitors and locals alike.”
Under the new agreement, Local NEWS Network will continue to contribute 30 percent of all advertising revenues to the Durango-La Plata County Airport, with a minimum annual guaranteed payment of either 85 percent of the previous year’s revenue or $40,000, whichever is greater.
Today, 100% of Local NEWS Network’s advertising profit is reinvested locally to grow its Local NEWS Network distribution platform, with the mission of creating a sustainable model for producing and distributing local news across the country.
This investment underscores Local NEWS Network’s commitment to innovation, community partnerships, and Durango’s long-term growth.
For businesses interested in reaching travelers through these dynamic new displays, contact LNN to learn more about available advertising opportunities at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.
About Local News Network
Local News Network is a media technology company that has created a new approach to local news production and distribution in the digital era. LNN produces short-form, community focused video news stories that strengthen local community engagement and small business collaboration. The company deploys a news-distribution platform that leverages short-form video and uses omni-channel distribution to profitably scale news businesses into communities across the country.
To learn more, visit https://thelocalnews.us
Elijah Fenton is Program Manager with Local NEWS Network.