FAA Announces $76 million in Airport Modernization Grants

Funding of the airport infrastructure grants comes from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. [Credit: Pixabay]

The FAA is awarding another $76.1 million from the previously allocated $9 billion for 45 airport-related infrastructure projects in 22 states, it announced Thursday.

The funding comes from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program that helps cover the cost of airport improvements for projects such as expansion and remodeling of passenger terminals, baggage system upgrades, and runway and ramp rehabilitation.

READ MORE: FAA Boosts Infrastructure Funding at 71 U.S. Airports

“Millions of Americans fly every day, and it’s important that our nation’s airports be equipped to handle such a volume of passengers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The grants we’re announcing [Thursday] will make key improvements to ensure passengers move safely and efficiently through our airports and is another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to modernizing our nation’s aviation systems.”

Safety and Efficiency

According to Shannetta Griffin, FAA associate administrator for airports, “these grants help make key improvements that enhance safety and efficiency at airports of all sizes across the nation.”

This round of funding includes:

$6.4 million to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS) to rehabilitate the existing terminal building to accommodate a 14,000-square-foot federal inspection service facility that will allow passengers to clear customs more efficiently upon arrival. The space will be reconfigured to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and increase energy efficiency.
$3 million to Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) in Florida to install a new baggage system.
$1.8 million to South Bend International Airport (KSBN) in Indiana for reconstruction of existing Taxiway B pavement, which airport officials note has "reached the end of its useful life," as well as a redesign of the taxiway and ramp layout to improve operational safety of the nonmovement area. The airport dates back to 1929 when Vincent Bendix, the founder of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, purchased 610 acres northwest of South Bend on which to build an airport. Bendix was the sponsor of several air races. The airport is one of the oldest constantly functioning facilities in the Midwest.
$1 million to Friday Harbor Airport (KFHR) in Washington state for improvements to the fuel farm, including the installation of a supplemental tank for jet-A fuel.

A search of airports selected for project funding may be found here. Airports are listed as large and small, airline hubs and non-hubs.

A full list of fiscal 2024 AIG grants may be found here.

To date, nearly $9 billion of the $15 million total of AIG funding has been made available to airports across the country.

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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.