Money for Arkansas airports

U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman recently joined Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Mike Ross (AR-4) to announce that eight Arkansas airports will receive a combined $1,484,845 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for new construction and improvement at their facilities.

“Safe and reliable transportation infrastructure is a critical component of economic development in Arkansas,” Pryor said. “Reinvesting these federal dollars into our airports will benefit local businesses and residents alike.”

"These grants are important investments into these eight communities across the state. Infrastructure is key to expanding economic development in Arkansas and these grants should help bring more jobs and businesses to our state,” said Boozman.

“As we continue efforts to grow Arkansas’ economy and put people back to work, local airports can provide a link to developing economic opportunities. The construction and improvements funded with these federal dollars will be a boost for job creators in our state, said Crawford.

“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to the economic growth of our local economies,” said Womack. “These grants will provide our local airports, like the Ozark-Franklin County Airport and the Russellville Regional Airport, the much-needed funds to maintain current facilities and help further expand economic development across the state.”

“Investing in our state’s infrastructure not only creates jobs now, but also fosters economic growth and development in the future,” said Ross. “I’m proud to help announce this support for our local airports because they provide an essential means of transportation and help recruit prospective businesses to our communities and to our area.”

Airports receiving funding are as follows:

• Brinkley- Frank Federer Memorial Airport: The city of Brinkley will receive $77,355 to fund the design for the rehabilitation of the apron at Frank Federer Memorial Airport in Brinkley.  The existing apron pavement has reached the end of its useful life.
• DeQueen- J Lynn Helms Sevier County Airport: Sevier County will receive $250,000 to construct an apron at J Lynn Helms Sevier County Airport in DeQueen.  The apron will provide aircraft parking for users of the airport.
• Dumas- Billy Free Municipal Airport: The city of Dumas will receive $179,640 to rehabilitate the runway at Billy Free Municipal Airport in Dumas.  The existing runway pavement has reached the end of its useful life.
• Manila- Manila Municipal Airport: The city of Manila will receive $58,363 to rehabilitate the runway at Manila Municipal Airport that has reached the end of its useful life.
• McGehee- McGehee Municipal Airport: The city of McGehee will receive $150,320 to expand the apron at McGehee Municipal Airport.  This project will bring the apron up to Federal Aviation Administration design standards.
    
•  Ozark- Ozark-Franklin County Airport: Franklin County will receive $139,950 to rehabilitate the runway at Ozark-Franklin County Airport.  This project will help maintain the structural integrity of the runway and minimize foreign object debris.
• Russellville- Russellville Regional Airport: The city of Russellville will receive $99,900 to rehabilitate the runway at Russellville Regional Airport. The rehabilitation of the runway is needed to maintain structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
• Walnut Ridge- Walnut Ridge Regional Airport: The city of Walnut Ridge will receive $529,317 to rehabilitate the existing taxiway at Walnut Ridge Regional Airport. The existing taxiway pavement has reached the end of its useful life.