On Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Elaine Chao announced federal funds for 10 airports across the Sunshine State.
Chao announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will send more than $273 million for airport safety and infrastructure grants to 41 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau and Puerto Rico.
“This $273 million federal investment in our nation’s airports will strengthen safety, improve travel, generate jobs, and benefit local communities,” said Chao.
Most of the money–more than $242 million–will come from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) while $31 million will come from the $2.3 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Congress and the White House agreed on at the end of March.
“The safety of our nation’s airports is of paramount importance to the FAA,” said FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson. “These grants will allow these necessary projects to continue.”
“The grants will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. The projects include purchasing aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment, constructing runways and taxiways, repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, conducting airport master plan studies and installing airport perimeter fencing,” the Transportation Department noted.
More than $7.5 million is coming to airports across Florida
Arcadia Municipal will get $1.2 million for a taxiway while Boca Raton Airport will get almost $700,000 to update its master plan. Jacksonville International Airport is penciled in to receive $413,000 for environmental mitigation. Kissimmee Gateway will get more than $3.3 million to help with airport lighting. Okeechobee County will get $643,500 for lighting and other matters while Ormond Beach Municipal will get $166,666 to rehabilitate a taxiway. Punta Gorda is getting $471,305 for its runways. Quincy Municipal is getting $450,555 for runways while Venice Municipal will get $200,000 to extend a taxiway. Wauchula Municipal will get $300,000 for taxiway improvements including lighting.
Kevin Derby can be reached at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
