WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $495 million in airport infrastructure grants, the second 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 Arkansas will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The grants include:

• Bentonville Municipal–$140,000 for taxiway construction, lighting installation
• Blytheville/Arkansas Int’l–$243,450 for taxiway, apron rehabilitation
• Corning Municipal - $610,458 for runway rehabilitation
• Fort Smith Regional - $441,000 for runway rehabilitation
• Fort Smith Regional–$720,000 to rehabilitate taxiway lighting
• Harrison/Boone County–$412,300 to rehabilitate apron, taxiway
• Lake Village Municipal - $622,004 to rehabilitate runway
• Manila Municipal–$236,025 for runway rehabilitation
• Mena Intermountain–$106,000 for runway rehabilitation
• Mtn Home/Baxter Co.–$151,380 for runway rehabilitation
• Ozark-Franklin Co.–$232,000 for rehabilitation of runway, apron and taxiway
• Rogers Exec/Carter Field–$703,500 to reconstruct a taxiway
• Searcy Municipal - $600,000 to build a building

A total of 358 grants in 46 states and the Pacific Islands will fund infrastructure projects at 381 airports around the country. 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.

Click on the link below for a complete listing of grants: https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/grantapportion_data/