Friday, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) had awarded $11.36 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to 10 local Alabama airports for infrastructure upgrades.
In a statement announcing the grant award, Shelby, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, advised that the infrastructure upgrades would serve to support economic development efforts.
“This is great news. More than $11 million for improvements to our local airports means economic development and the potential for new jobs right here in Alabama,” said Shelby. “Alabama is open for business, and we must continue advancing our infrastructure if we want to remain prosperous. I am pleased that these airport upgrades and security enhancements will support the growth and success of many communities in Alabama.”
The grants were administered through the fiscal year 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The program was funded in the annual appropriations package that was signed into law in March.
The grants awarded are as follows:
- Huntsville International-Carl T. Jones Field — Huntsville, Alabama: $4,225,389 to rehabilitate an apron, expand an access road, rehabilitate an access road, seal taxiway pavement surface and pavement joints, and shift or reconfigure an existing taxiway
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport — Birmingham, Alabama: $2,925,000 to seal runway pavement and surface pavement joints and seal taxiway pavement and surface pavement joints
- Bibb County Airport — Centreville, Alabama: $1,521,654 to reconstruct a taxiway and construct a taxilane
- Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport — Greenville, Alabama: $800,000 to rehabilitate a taxiway
- Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport — Centre, Alabama: $494,910 to expand an apron
- Courtland Airport — Courtland, Alabama: $400,000 to seal taxiway pavement and surface pavement joints
- Robbins Field Airport — Oneonta, Alabama: $332,381 for obstruction marking, lighting, and removal
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport — Birmingham, Alabama: $306,000 to shift or reconfigure an existing taxiway
- Jeremiah Denton Airport — Dauphin Island, Alabama: $225,958 to construct, extend, and improve a safety area
- Hartselle-Morgan County Regional Airport — Hartselle, Alabama: $135,000 to update an airport master plan or study
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
