FAA Announces $636M to Airports for Runway Work, and Upgrades

Airports across the United States received positive news from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the agency announced $636.1 million in funding for upgrades to runways, taxiways, and other infrastructure.

On August 9, the FAA revealed that 320 grants would be awarded across 46 states and American Samoa. This funding is provided through the FAA's long-established Airport Improvement Program, with additional recent FAA grants coming from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The largest grant in this latest round is $24.2 million, designated for runway rehabilitation at New York Stewart International in Newburgh, N.Y. Other significant grants include $16.3 million for runway improvements at Philadelphia International Airport, $15.8 million to build a new taxiway at Willow Run Airport in Detroit, and $15 million for runway rehabilitation at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole on the island of Hawaii.

Additional funds were allocated to block-grant programs in Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas. These programs allow states to distribute FAA funds to non-primary commercial, reliever, and general aviation airports.

While many grants focus on infrastructure—such as runways, taxiways, aprons, and terminals—some will support non-infrastructure projects, including updating master plans and acquiring firefighting and snow-removal equipment.

Of the $636.1 million total, $474.2 million, or approximately 75%, comes from FAA entitlement funding, awarded based on a formula, while the remaining 25% is provided through FAA discretionary funds.

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