Eight airports across Mississippi are expected to get some upgrades with the recent awarding of over $17 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This is the third round of funds given in the Airport Improvement Program, following the allocation of $15 million to 29 Mississippi airports in May.
Elected officials including Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Representative Steven Palazzo, and Representative Michael Guest announced the allocated funding Thursday, saying that they hope the improvements will aid in the state’s economy and tourism.
“Air travel and shipping are critical components of Mississippi’s economy to create robust centers of trade and growth. With these grants, Mississippi will be able to expand our critical air infrastructure systems to create an even more prosperous Mississippi,” Guest explained.
Out of the eight airports, Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is set to receive the largest sum of grant funds, totaling approximately $13,596,966 for taxiway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation.
The second-largest allocation of $1,150,000 in funds will go to the Tunica Municipal Airport for taxiway lighting and runway lighting reconstruction, and runway vertical visual guidance system installation.
Other airports that will receive grant funds include the following:
- George M. Bryan Airport, Starkville – $947,826 for runway extension
- John Bell Williams Airport, Raymond – $746,988 for runway lighting reconstruction
- Grenada Municipal Airport, Grenada – $239,229 for runway rehabilitation and sealing runway pavement and pavement joints
- Yazoo County Airport, Yazoo City – $144,000 for updating the airport master plan
- Bruce Campbell Field, Madison – $135,000 for apron reconstruction
- Vicksburg Municipal Airport, Vicksburg – $55,328 for runway rehabilitation
