$16 Million Awarded for Airport Infrastructure Grants
Posted 6/06/24 (Thu)
The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission recently finalized and approved $16 million in state infrastructure grant allocations to multiple public airports throughout North Dakota.
$7.7 million is being provided to assist with maintenance and improvements at the commercial service airports and $8.3 million is provided for general aviation airport projects. The awards are provided in the below listings which show 190 individual projects have received grant awards at 65 different public-use airports throughout the state.
These state grant allocations also match and leverage federal grant dollars through the Airport Infrastructure Program (AIP), Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL), and Airport Terminal Program (ATP). It is estimated that throughout the 2024 construction cycle, North Dakota airport projects will receive approximately $70 million dollars through different federal funding sources which all require matching participation.
$10 million of the total state grant allocation was provided through funding that was made available through the Airport Infrastructure Fund. This fund was established as a part of the “Operation Prairie Dog” bill that was passed during the 2019 legislative session in order to assist with the maintenance and development of the 89 public-use airports throughout North Dakota. The other $6 million allocation was made possible from the Aeronautics Commission’s Special Fund where the primary revenue source is derived from state tax collections on aviation fuel and aircraft sales. These state airport grants are critical in maintaining the needed infrastructure to support the aviation industry, which is major contributor to the state’s overall economy and standard of living.
"One of our primary objectives is to prioritize and direct federal and state funds to North Dakota communities to ensure the continuous maintenance and enhancement of our 89 public-use airports," stated Kyle Wanner, Director of the ND Aeronautics Commission. "Our airports are vital to the state's economic health and they facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of people and products worldwide. We are excited to provide these grants and contribute to infrastructure solutions that will assist our communities to grow and diversify their local economies."