On June 15th, the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission finalized and approved approximately $20 million in state infrastructure grant allocations to multiple public airports throughout North Dakota.
$14 million is being provided to assist with maintenance and improvements at the commercial service airports and $6 million is provided for general aviation airport projects. The awards are provided in the below listings which show 180 individual projects have received grant awards at 62 different public-use airports throughout the state.
View the Commercial Service Airport Grant Awards
View the General Aviation Airport Grant Awards
$10 million of the total grant allocation was provided through funding that was made available for the first time through the Airport Infrastructure Fund. This fund was established as a part of the “Operation Prairie Dog” bill that was passed during the 2019 legislative session in order to assist with the maintenance and development of the 89 public-use airports throughout North Dakota. The other $10 million allocation was made possible from the Aeronautics Commission’s Special Fund where the primary revenue source is derived from state tax collections on aviation fuel and aircraft sales. These state grants are critical in maintaining the needed infrastructure to support the aviation industry, which is major contributor to the state’s overall economy and standard of living.
These state grant allocations also match and leverage federal grant dollars through the Airport Infrastructure Program (AIP), Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL), and Airport Terminal Program (ATP). It is estimated that throughout the 2023 construction cycle, North Dakota airport projects will receive approximately $65 million dollars through those different federal funding sources which all require matching participation.
“The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) plays a crucial role in supporting the development of the air transportation system within our state. One of our primary objectives is to prioritize and direct federal and state funds to North Dakota communities to ensure the continuous maintenance and enhancement of our public-use airports,” stated Kyle Wanner, Director of the NDAC. “Our airports are vital to the state’s economic health, and they facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of people and products worldwide. The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission is excited to provide these grants and contribute to infrastructure solutions that will assist our communities to grow and diversify their local economy.”
