WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $477 million in airport infrastructure grants, the third 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota include the following awards:

$1,815,314 to Bemidji Regional Airport to purchase snow removal equipment, remove obstructions and build an apron.

$1,100,000 to Cloquet Carlton County Airport to rehabilitate a runway.

$1,063,175 to Duluth International Airport to buy snow removal equipment and update the Airport Master Plan Study.

$2,385,000 to Sky Harbor Airport in Duluth to build a runway.

$143,900 to Pride of the Prairie Airport in Elbow Lake to rehabilitate a runway and install a fence.             

$1,325,000 to Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport to rehabilitate an apron.

$272,565 to Hallock Municipal Airport to build a taxiway.

$2,150,000 to Lake Elmo Airport to rebuild a runway and taxiway.

$331,155 to Little Falls/Morrison County Airport to build a taxiway.           

$9,715,000 to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to build a taxiway, improve a runway safety area, install lighting and runway markings.

$90,000 to Mora Municipal Airport to rehabilitate a runway.

$150,000 to Morris Municipal Airport to rehabilitate a taxiway.

$283,500 to Pine River Regional Airport to conduct an Airport Master Plan Study.

$243,000 to South St. Paul Municipal Airport to rehabilitate a runway.

$562,923 to Staples Municipal Airport to build a building.

$332,500 to Thief River Falls Regional Airport to update the Airport Master Plan.

$117,630 to Tower Municipal Airport to build a snow removal equipment building and rehabilitate a runway.         

$163,350 to Walker Municipal Airport to rehabilitate an access road and parking lot.

There will be a total of 276 grants to 264 airports in 44 states, the Pacific Islands, and the District of Columbia. 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 this funding increases 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 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.