Aug. 9, 2010
Rockefeller, Goodwin, Rahall, Mollohan Announce $6.5 Million In Grant Awards For Four Airports Across West Virginia
Federal Funds Awarded Through Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, D.C. (HNN) – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Carte Goodwin (D-W.Va.), along with Congressmen Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), today announced $6,521,310 in federal funding for four airports across West Virginia. The grants, which were awarded through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), are being used to improve existing facilities by enhancing safety measures and upgrading airport runways and other structures. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Rockefeller oversees this grant program.
“Small and rural communities in West Virginia have had an uphill battle with maintaining adequate air service and making ends meet. This grant money goes a long way to keep West Virginia’s airports safe and efficient, and that is a great thing,” said Rockefeller. “The money will especially help those who work in and travel to our great state—by allowing our people and businesses to compete with larger, more urban areas around the world.”
“West Virginia airports are part of the economic activity in our state,” said Senator Goodwin. “We must do all that we can to ensure that our airports maintain and comply with the highest standards of safety. I commend this funding for keeping our facilities safe and up to date, so West Virginia continues to remain competitive in commercial and business air travel.”
“Investing in improvements to our basic infrastructure is vitally important to broadening our economic opportunities for West Virginians,” said Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Federal funding for regional airports like Greenbrier Valley and Tri-State will pay dividends not only now, but for generations to come. Our airports are economic engines for our state. These sizeable grants will go a long way toward maintaining reliable, safe air service to the benefit of the flying public, including the many businesses throughout southern West Virginia that rely on air travel regularly.”
“These local airports are so important to tying smaller communities and rural areas into the nation’s transportation grid,” said Mollohan. “I have always supported this program, and I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has recognized the importance of these particular airports.”
The following airports were awarded grant money by the Department of Transportation:
Greenbrier Valley Airport - $4,600,000
Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field - $1,211,056
Morgantown Municipal-Walter L. Bill Hart Field - $610,254
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport - $100,000
Background
AIP was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 in order to provide grants to public and some private agencies for the planning, development, and improvement of public-use airports. These grants are highly sought after, and the FAA bases distribution of these funds on current national objectives and priorities. The grant money can be used for a variety of projects, including airfield lighting, weather observation stations, land acquisition, and environmental studies.
Morgantown Municipal-Walter L. Bill Hart Field will use grant money to fund the rehabilitation of the terminal building to improve the building’s energy efficiency, specifically in its heating and cooling system. Two additional grants will be used to identify and examine the wildlife species observed at Greenbrier Valley and Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airports by conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments. These assessments will help reduce the probability of potential animal interference at the airports and, therefore, aide in meeting safety goals. The Tri-State and Greenbrier Valley Airports will also use the funding for runway and apron rehabilitations.
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Rockefeller, Goodwin, Rahall, Mollohan Announce $6.5 Million In Grant Awards For Four Airports Across West Virginia
Federal Funds Awarded Through Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, D.C. (HNN) – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Carte Goodwin (D-W.Va.), along with Congressmen Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), today announced $6,521,310 in federal funding for four airports across West Virginia. The grants, which were awarded through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), are being used to improve existing facilities by enhancing safety measures and upgrading airport runways and other structures. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Rockefeller oversees this grant program.
“Small and rural communities in West Virginia have had an uphill battle with maintaining adequate air service and making ends meet. This grant money goes a long way to keep West Virginia’s airports safe and efficient, and that is a great thing,” said Rockefeller. “The money will especially help those who work in and travel to our great state—by allowing our people and businesses to compete with larger, more urban areas around the world.”
“West Virginia airports are part of the economic activity in our state,” said Senator Goodwin. “We must do all that we can to ensure that our airports maintain and comply with the highest standards of safety. I commend this funding for keeping our facilities safe and up to date, so West Virginia continues to remain competitive in commercial and business air travel.”
“Investing in improvements to our basic infrastructure is vitally important to broadening our economic opportunities for West Virginians,” said Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Federal funding for regional airports like Greenbrier Valley and Tri-State will pay dividends not only now, but for generations to come. Our airports are economic engines for our state. These sizeable grants will go a long way toward maintaining reliable, safe air service to the benefit of the flying public, including the many businesses throughout southern West Virginia that rely on air travel regularly.”
“These local airports are so important to tying smaller communities and rural areas into the nation’s transportation grid,” said Mollohan. “I have always supported this program, and I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has recognized the importance of these particular airports.”
The following airports were awarded grant money by the Department of Transportation:
Greenbrier Valley Airport - $4,600,000
Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field - $1,211,056
Morgantown Municipal-Walter L. Bill Hart Field - $610,254
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport - $100,000
Background
AIP was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 in order to provide grants to public and some private agencies for the planning, development, and improvement of public-use airports. These grants are highly sought after, and the FAA bases distribution of these funds on current national objectives and priorities. The grant money can be used for a variety of projects, including airfield lighting, weather observation stations, land acquisition, and environmental studies.
Morgantown Municipal-Walter L. Bill Hart Field will use grant money to fund the rehabilitation of the terminal building to improve the building’s energy efficiency, specifically in its heating and cooling system. Two additional grants will be used to identify and examine the wildlife species observed at Greenbrier Valley and Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airports by conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments. These assessments will help reduce the probability of potential animal interference at the airports and, therefore, aide in meeting safety goals. The Tri-State and Greenbrier Valley Airports will also use the funding for runway and apron rehabilitations.
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