Regional Airports Receive Project Funding

 DENVER ­— Friday, March 9, 2012 — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today that $20.4 million in state aviation fuel tax revenues will be distributed to 47 Colorado airports under the Aviation Discretionary Grant Program. The program is administered by the Colorado Aeronautical Board and the Division of Aeronautics of the Colorado Department of Transportation.

“Colorado’s airports are an important part of our state’s economic engine,” Hickenlooper said. “By leveraging these grants with local and federal funds, these critical airport improvements will create jobs and help ensure that Colorado’s transportation system can meet the growing needs of our businesses and travel industry.” 

The grants will leverage local and federal funds to total $61.3 million in airport improvements, ranging from runway lighting, runways, taxiways, and aprons to acquisition of firefighting and snow removal equipment.  These necessary investments will enhance safety and access for the traveling public and aviators statewide.  The 2012 grants range in size from $3,947 to $1.9 million.

A 2008 study commissioned by CDOT Aeronautics indicated that economic activity generated by Colorado’s 14 commercial airports and 60 public-use airports results in more than 340,000 jobs, with a payroll in excess of $11 billion and total economic activity generated by businesses, tenants, and other on-airport activities at more than $32 billion annually. A state of Massachusetts aeronautics study indicated that for each $6 million spent in airport construction spending, as much of the 2012 discretionary grants will be, generates 43 jobs with $2 million in payroll.

Regional grants include:  La Junta Municipal Airport for installation of precision approach path indicator using $400,000 from the CDAG grant and $58,479 from a local match as well as $600,000 in federal funding; Burlington/Kit Carson Airport for an airport concrete panel replacement and a tractor for snow removal using $328,500 from CDAG and $36,500 in local funding; Las Animas City and County using $90,000 from CDAG and $10,000 in local funding for runway pavement maintenance and drainage improvements and Springfield Municipal Airport using $400,000 from CDAG and $44,444 in local funding for a new apron construction project and an airport layout map.