“Infrastructure projects funded by these grants will advance safety, improve travel, generate jobs and provide other economic benefits for local communities,” Chao said.
Projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, noise mitigation, emissions reduction and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons and terminals. The construction and equipment supported by this funding increase the airports’ safety, emergency response capabilities and capacity, and could support further economic growth and development within each airport’s region.
Airport infrastructure in the United States, with 3,332 airports and 5,000 paved runways, supports our economic competitiveness and improves quality of life. According to the FAA’s most recent economic analysis, U.S. civil aviation accounts for $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs. Under Chao’s leadership, the department is delivering AIP investments for the American people, who depend on reliable infrastructure.
Airports can receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.
Some of the grant awards in the Midwest Contractor area include:
- Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Iowa received two grants for $11 million and $135,000. The grants will fund the reconstruction of a runway.
- The Eastern Iowa Airport in Iowa received three grants for $8.1 million, $86,000 and $106,000. The grants will fund the reconstruction of a runway, rehabilitation of a runway and taxiway and an update to a miscellaneous study.
- Des Moines International Airport in Iowa received three grants for $11.3 million, $5 million and $76,000. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway, apron and taxiway.
- Guthrie County Regional Airport in Iowa received a grant for $3.1 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway.
- Knoxville Municipal Airport in Iowa received a grant for $3.6 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway and runway lighting.
- Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport in Iowa received a grant for $4.1 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway.
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas received a grant for $12.9 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of runway lighting and the rehabilitation of two runways.
- Coffey County Airport in Kansas received a grant for $3.7 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway and runway lighting.
- Shalz Field Airport in Kansas received a grant for $3.4 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a runway and runway lighting.
- Phillip Billard Municipal Airport in Kansas received a grant for $3 million. The grant will fund the reconstruction of a taxiway and taxiway lighting.
- Eppley Airfield Airport in Nebraska received a grant for $11 million. The grant will fund the rehabilitation of a taxiway.
- Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Nebraska received two grants for $3.4 million and $783,000. The grants will fund the acquirement of an aircraft rescue and firefighting building and rehabilitation of a runway.
- North Platte Regional Airport Lee Bird Field in Nebraska received two grants for $4.5 million and $148,000. The grants will fund the reconstruction of airfield guidance signs, an airport beacon and a taxiway, the rehabilitation of taxiway lighting and the acquirement of safety and/or security equipment.
- Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri received two grants for $3.3 million and $169,000. The grants will fund the construction of an apron and terminal building and an update to a miscellaneous study.
