CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $16 MILLION IN FEDERAL AIRPORT FUNDS TO IMPROVE SAFETY & SERVICE IN MIDDLE & SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
MACON, Ga. – Today, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr. (GA02) announced that Columbus Airport and Middle Georgia Regional Airport both will receive nearly $16 million through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The funds will be used for runway reconstruction and expansion projects.
“I am glad to see this continued investment in our regional airports. They are vital to local economies and crucial to supporting major national hubs, like Hartsfield Airport,” said Congressman Bishop. “Our airports must constantly make repairs and improvements to keep up with Georgia as it grows, ensure air travelers’ safety, and help keep our supply chain running smoothly. Congress must continue to robustly fund the Airport Improvement Program so that the federal government remains a reliable partner for our local airports in the years ahead.”
“The extension of Runway 5/23 was identified nearly forty years ago as a community infrastructure need, and this funding is exactly the support we need to keep it moving forward” said Doug Faour, Aviation Director of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. “I am appreciative of Congressman Sanford Bishop’s dedication to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and his efforts to make the funding available.”
“The Columbus Airport is overly elated to receive 3.1 Million Dollars of federal grants from the FAA. These grants will enable the airport to ensure it maintains a safe and travel ready infrastructure to service our surrounding Tri-City community,” said Delois Dee Marsh, Columbus Airport Commissioner.
In the past month, these airports have received:
- $2,098,824 to the Columbus Airport to rehabilitate a taxiway
- $1,163,977 to the Columbus Airport for runway reconstruction
- $12,529,411 to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport for runway extension
- $213,077 to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport for runway extension
In April 2023, Southwest Georgia Regional Airport received $235,980 in AIP funds for a project to expand an apron, where aircraft are parked or unloaded/loaded.
In February 2023, Middle Georgia Regional Airport received over $1 million from the FAA through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It funded 50% of a two-phase project that will rehabilitate 1,500 feet of the existing Taxiway C pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris. It is part of a larger effort at Middle Georgia Regional Airport to improve and expand facilities.
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