Nearly $2.5 million will be spent on improving local airports across the state of Mississippi.
Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith announced the award of a $2.37 million grant which will be shared by nine Mississippi airports to make improvements and expand their services. The grant comes from funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Senator Wicker noted that the upkeep of Mississippi’s airports is highly important to residents in these areas and for economic development.
“Mississippi’s airports provide residents with a convenient and accessible travel option and support economic development in our communities,” Wicker said. “I am pleased the FAA has approved these grants to support the much-needed rehabilitation and expansion of existing airport infrastructure in our state.”
Senator Hyde-Smith discussed the responsibility of maintaining airports in these communities and upholding their infrastructure.
“Air service is an important asset for rural communities in Mississippi. I’m pleased the FAA is prioritizing airport improvement funding for small and rural airports. These FY2018 grants will help local officials undertake airport infrastructure improvements to support safe and efficient operations,” Hyde-Smith said.
The full list of airports on the receiving end of this grant and their use of the funds can be seen below.
- Vicksburg Municipal Airport, City of Vicksburg – $371,052 for airport drainage improvements
- Yazoo County Airport, Yazoo County – $150,000 for design and site preparation for construction of a fuel facility
- University-Oxford Airport, University of Mississippi – $165,719 for pavement reconstruction
- Philadelphia Municipal Airport, City of Philadelphia – $230,400 for apron rehabilitation and installation of perimeter fencing
- Dean Griffin Memorial Airport, City of Wiggins – $71,901 for runway and apron rehabilitation
- McCharen Field Airport, City of West Point – $358,380 for airport drainage improvements and apron expansion
- Okolona Municipal-Richard Stovall Field Airport, City of Okolona – $100,977 for tree removal and apron expansion to provide additional space for aircraft parking
- Picayune Municipal Airport, Picayune County – $629,550 for taxiway construction and installation of taxiway lighting
- Ripley Airport, City of Ripley and Tippah County – $294,107 for installation of perimeter fencing
Additional municipal airports in Mississippi are expected to receive airport improvement grants from DOT.
