Friday, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) announced that 20 local airports throughout Alabama will benefit from more than $25.9 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for various airport improvements to support infrastructure construction, safety advances, and equipment acquisition.
“The FAA grants awarded to these local airports across Alabama support key projects that aim to improve safety, security, and efficiency,” said Senator Shelby. “Airport infrastructure impacts overall economic success, and as a result of this funding, twenty of Alabama’s airports will receive the upgrades and advances needed to continue serving communities and driving development.”
The FAA grants range from $10.4 million for the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to $100,200 for the Camden Municipal Airport. They are funded through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and federal appropriations.
The 21 FAA grants, total $25,902,595.
The grants will support the following airport projects in Alabama:
- The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham Airport Authority will receive $10,395,000 for attaining an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle; and for building aircraft rescue and firefighting building.
- The Bessemer Airport has been awarded $2,277,393 for runway rehabilitation and runway lighting rehabilitation.
- The Mobile Regional Airport, Mobile Airport Authority has been awarded $2,361,754 for taxiway rehabilitation.
- The Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport, City of Sylacauga has been awarded $1,948,542 for runway rehabilitation and runway lighting rehabilitation.
- The Cullman Regional-Folsom Field Airport, City and County of Cullman will receive $1,543,500 for taxiway reconstruction.
- The Pryor Field Regional Airport, Counties of Morgan and Limestone will receive $1,150,000 for runway rehabilitation.
- The Walker County-Bevill Field Airport will receive $1,108,500 for runway lighting rehabilitation.
- The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham Airport Authority has been awarded $1,080,000 to conduct an environmental study.
- The Northeast Alabama Regional Airport in Gadsden will receive $900,000 to improve airport drainage and taxiway rehabilitation.
- The Ashland/Lineville Airport in Clay County has been awarded $497,488 for apron and taxiway construction.
- The Bibb County Airport in Bibb County has been awarded $382,518 for apron and runway rehabilitation.
- The Shelby County Airport will receive $348,814 for final reimbursement of construction of a 14,830-square-foot hangar building.
- The H.L. (Sonny) Callahan Airport in Fairhope will receive $325,000 for access road expansion.
- The Geneva Municipal Airport, Town has been awarded $310,500 for runway rehabilitation.
- The Clayton Municipal Airport will receive $281,341 for runway rehabilitation.
- The Wetumpka Municipal Airport has been awarded $244,727 for taxiway construction and taxiway lighting installation.
- The Abbeville Municipal Airport will get $197,053 for runway rehabilitation.
- The Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport will receive $150,265 for taxiway construction.
- The Anniston Regional Airport will receive $150,000 to conduct a miscellaneous study.
- The Talladega Municipal Airport, City of Talladega has been awarded $150,000 for taxiway rehabilitation.
- The Camden Municipal Airport, will get $100,200 for installation of a new runway vertical/visual guidance system and removal of hazardous obstructions.
Senator Shelby is the chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations, which authors and advances the FAA funding legislation. The funding distribution is based on both entitlement and discretionary awards.
