WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded seven grants totaling $4,099,854 to county governments and airport authorities located in Northeast Ohio. The funds will be used to help make repairs to airports and their critical infrastructure.

“Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” said Brown. “These investments will provide airports in Northeast Ohio with the resources they need to ensure the safety of their passengers and support the local economy for years to come.”

DOT funds include:

  • $85,430 grant to the Wayne County Commissioners to support the Wayne County Airport to improve the existing terminal apron surface.
  • $160,494 grant to the Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority to support the installation of a runway vertical/visual guidance system, reconstruct airport beacon, reconstruct runway lighting, reconstruct taxiway lighting, and make other improvements.
  • $108,000 grant to the Western Reserve Port Authority to support the Youngstown/Warren Regional Airport. The project intends to replace the airport’s wind cone that has reached the end of its useful life and no longer meets FAA design standards.
  • $3,431,500 grant to the Akron Canton Regional Airport Authority. The funding intends to make improvements to taxiways to meet FAA design standards, and rehabilitate the existing terminal building to allow for efficient movement of passengers and baggage.
  • $118,530 grant to the Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority. This funding intends to construct a taxilane and rehabilitate the runway.
  • $45,900 grant to the Ashland County Airport Authority & Ashland County Commissioners to support the Ashland Airport. The project intends to construct an access road to increase passenger access to the airport.
  • $150,000 grant to the Kent State University to support the Kent State University Airport. The project intends to rehabilitate the existing runway to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.

The FAA supports public-use airports included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) through the Airport Improvement Program. The program supports projects that improve airport safety, capacity, security and environmental impact. More information about the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program can be found here.

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