WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $478 million in airport infrastructure grants, the fourth allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States.

“This significant investment in airport improvements in South Dakota will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation,” Chao said.

The grants to airports in South Dakota include the following awards:

• $415,000 to Harding County Airport in Buffalo to construct a terminal building and a snow removal equipment building.
• $70,000 to Canton Municipal Airport for taxiway construction.
• $330,826 to Custer County Airport to acquire land for flight approaches.
• $750,000 to Faulkton Municipal Airport for taxiway and apron reconstruction.
• $1.13 million to Huron Regional Airport for runway lighting, for a runway guidance system, and for airfield guidance signs.
• $315,000 to Madison Municipal Airport for runway rehabilitation.
• $205,000 to McLaughlin Municipal Airport to acquire land for flight approaches.
• $66,000 to Murdo Municpal Airport for building construction.
• $1.05 million to Philip Airport for taxiway and apron reconstruction and building construction.
• $115,000 to Pierre Regional Airport for taxiway reconstruction.
• $4.56 Million to Rapid City Regional Airport to reconstruct a terminal building, taxiway and access road rehabilitation, and to acquire snow removal equipment.
• $459,000 to Rosebud Sioux Tribal Airport for a building expansion.
• $7.92 million to Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls to expand and rehabilitate an airfield apron.
• $700,000 to Wagner Municipal Airport for building construction.
• $140,000 to Wall Municipal Airport to conduct an environmental study.
• $117,000 to Sigurd Anderson Airport in Webster for building construction and to acquire land for development.
• $1.3 million to Chan Gurney Municipal Airport for apron expansion and to remove runway obstructions.

The FAA will award grants to 232 airports in 43 states, including American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. Selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons, and terminals. The construction and equipment supported by these grants will enhance safety and capacity while promoting economic growth in the regions served by each airport.

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 Secretary 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.