A new program by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to begin distributing nearly $15.2 million dollars to several Oklahoma airports.
The Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program (ACRGP) is part of the Federal Governments latest Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSAA). Oklahoma will have $15,198,519 to distribute to 77 Oklahoma airports, including four commercial airports as well as 73 general aviation (GA) airports. An airport sponsor may use these funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, combating the spread of pathogens at the airport and debt service payments.
Four of the GA airports are also eligible for the FAA Contract Tower Program funding under CRRSAA including Ardmore Municipal Airport, University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Wiley Post Airport and Enid Woodring Regional Airport.
The CRRSAA was signed into law by former President Trump on December 27, 2020 directing nearly $2 billion in funds to be awarded as economic relief to eligible U.S. airports to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill includes $1.75 billion for commercial service and certain cargo airports and up to $45 million for nonprimary Commercial and GA airports.
“The past year brought the Oklahoma Airport System challenges like the industry has never experienced. As with the first round of relief funds, federal transportation dollars to our airports is appropriate and necessary during these difficult times,” Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz said. “We know that regional airports connect communities to commerce, and these critical grant funds will continue to allow our communities to sustain the operations at their airports.”
Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport will receive the most funding at $6.4M while Tulsa International Airport will receive $5.5M. Stillwater and Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airports will receive just over $1M each.
“We have spent the better part of a year advocating for our airports during the pandemic, and we are encouraged to see some of this funding coming to Oklahoma,” said State Director of Aeronautics, Grayson Ardies. “We sincerely appreciate everything that our Federal Delegation has done to bring this relief to our airports and look forward to working with them on future relief efforts.”
Airports receiving the most amounts of funding are:
Will Rogers World Airport $6,447,970
Tulsa International Airport $5,525,442
Stillwater Regional Airport $1,016,429
Wiley Post Airport $91,162
University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport $57,162
Enid Woodring Regional Airport $57,162
Ardmore Municipal Airport $57,162
Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport $57,000
West Woodward $23,000
Ponca City Regional $23,000
For a complete list of airports and funding, please visit www.oac.ok.gov.
