The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded 16 local airports across the state of Alabama a total of $10,750,845 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for infrastructure improvements.

The grant funding was made available through annual measures facilitated by U.S. Senator Richard Shelby’s (R-AL) leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, as well as the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) of 2020.

In a statement announcing the grants, Shelby said, “Improvements to infrastructure at the local level are important for economic development in our communities.”

“I am pleased that these 16 airports will receive nearly $11 million to enhance safety and boost aviation advancements. This is great news for each of these areas and will advance economic growth. I look forward to the positive impact this funding will have throughout Alabama,” he concluded.

The FAA grants are administered through Fiscal Year 2020 Airport Improvement Program annual and supplemental awards. Additionally, funds provided through the CARES Act serve as the local match for the infrastructure grants.

Grants were awarded for the following Yellowhammer State airport projects:

• South Alabama Regional Airport-Bill Benton Field, Sanford, Alabama – $166,666 to construct, extend, and improve the safety area
• Auburn University Regional Airport, Auburn, Alabama – $2,085,581 to rehabilitate a runway
• Bibb County Airport, Centreville, Alabama – $150,556 to reconstruct a taxiway
• Cullman Regional Airport-Folsom Field, Vinemont, Alabama – $774,251 to rehabilitate a runway and reconfigure an existing taxiway
• Jeremiah Denton Airport, Dauphin Island, Alabama – $588,888 to reconstruct runway lighting and airport lighting vault
• Demopolis Regional Airport, Demopolis, Alabama – $166,666 to update the airport master plan or study
• Weedon Field Airport, Eufaula, Alabama – $137,765 to acquire land for development and for obstruction removal
• Evergreen Regional Airport-Middleton Field, Evergreen, Alabama – $455,663 to construct a taxiway
• Richard Arthur Field Airport, Fayette, Alabama – $150,000 to reconstruct an apron
• Posey Field Airport, Haleyville, Alabama – $604,575 to install perimeter fencing and for obstruction removal
• Headland Municipal Airport, Headland, Alabama – $282,500 to install weather reporting equipment
• Huntsville Executive Airport-Tom Sharp Jr. Field, Meridianville, Alabama – $204,934 to acquire land for development and construct an airport-related environmental study
• Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile, Alabama – $3,000,602 to rehabilitate an apron
• Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, Muscle Shoals, Alabama – $517,600 to conduct a study, rehabilitate a taxiway, and seal runway pavement joints
• Prattville Airport-Grouby Field, Prattville, Alabama – $1,129,018 to seal apron pavement joints, seal runway pavement joints, and seal taxiway pavement joints
• Craig Field Airport, Selma, Alabama – $335,580 to rehabilitate a taxilane

Source: "Alabama airports awarded almost $11M in federal grants - "Important for economic development" Yellow Hammer (June 30, 2020) Sean Ross