Local News

US DOT announces $185.8 million in infrastructure grants to 62 airports

Aug 01, 2017

The Omak Airport was included on a long list of airports that will be sharing in $185 million worth of infrastructure grants.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced Monday, that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $185.8 million in airport infrastructure grants to 62 airports in 32 states across the United States as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

The Omak Airport will receive $1.3 million – grants funds to be used to repair the Runway.

The airport grant program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and markings, all of which help to create thousands of jobs.

Airports are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year, based on passenger volume. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, then the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.

The FAA will issue AIP grants to the airports over the next several weeks in time to take advantage of the summer construction season. The grants will ensure the projects at these airports are either under construction or completed prior to the onset of the winter season.