Shelby: Alabama Airports Receive $9.7 Million in FAA Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today announced that 19 local airports throughout Alabama will benefit from more than $9.7 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants – which range from $1.35 million for Mobile Downtown Airport to $109,691 for St. Clair County Airport.  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the funding for various airport expansions in order to support infrastructure construction, safety improvements, and equipment acquisition. 

“This $9.7 million in funding awarded by the Department of Transportation will significantly aid in the development of local airports across the state of Alabama,” said Senator Shelby.  “Investing in local communities and supporting growth and improvements will further contribute to our state’s economic vitality.  I am grateful to Secretary Chao for awarding these FAA grants, which will help strengthen Alabama’s aviation infrastructure for years to come.”

The FAA grants are funded through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and federal appropriations.  Senator Shelby is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which authors and advances the FAA and DOT funding legislation.  The funding distribution is based on both entitlement and discretionary awards.

The 20 FAA grants, totaling $9,687,820, will support the following airport projects in Alabama:

• Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile Airport Authority – $1,350,000 for an airport master plan study to analyze current and future needs
• Montgomery Regional Airport (Dannelly Field), Montgomery Airport Authority  – $935,112 for taxiway rehabilitation 
• Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile Airport Authority – $822,207 for runway rehabilitation and acquiring equipment
• Dothan Regional Airport, Dothan-Houston County Airport Authority – $700,061 for safety and security equipment acquisition, apron reconstruction, and runway rehabilitation
• Jackson Municipal Airport, City of Jackson – $600,000 for runway rehabilitation
• Vaiden Field Airport, Perry County Airport & Industrial Authority – $600,000 for runway rehabilitation and the construction of a building and a fuel farm facility
• Troy Municipal Airport at N Kenneth Campbell Field, City of Troy – $585,000 for runway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation
• Craig Field Airport, Craig Field Airport & Industrial Authority –  $550,000 for runway rehabilitation
• Scottsboro Municipal-Word Field Airport, City of Scottsboro – $500,674 for airfield guidance signs reconstruction and runway and taxiway lighting reconstruction
• South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field, Andalusia-Opp Airport Authority – $495,000 for runway lighting rehabilitation 
• Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport, County of Marion – $474,166 for taxiway construction
• Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, Counties of Colbert and Lauderdale – $331,550 for airfield guidance signs reconstruction 
• Foley Municipal Airport, City of Foley – $305,000 for taxiway reconstruction 
• Ozark-Blackwell Field Airport, City of Ozark – $303,444 for fuel farm facility construction 
• Prattville-Grouby Field Airport, Prattville Airport Authority – $268,200 to acquire land for enhanced protection during approaches
• Auburn University Regional Airport, Auburn University – $225,000 for runway rehabilitation
• Greensboro Municipal Airport, City of Greensboro – $204,590 for fuel farm facility construction and updating airport master plan study
• Posey Field Airport, City of Haleyville – $174,848 for fencing installation   
• Guntersville Municipal Airport, City of Guntersville – $153,277 for taxiway and runway construction
• St. Clair County Airport, St. Clair County Airport Authority – $109,691 for taxiway construction