Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (FL-07) announced today that the Orlando Sanford International Airport will receive more than $2.9 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
       
        The funding totals $2,908,981 and will be used for two initiatives at Orlando Sanford International Airport.  Of the amount, $1,615,000 will be used to acquire two aircraft rescue & fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles and $1,293,981 will be used for a runway extension.  Rep. Mica said of the award, “These new vehicles and runway improvements will improve safety and capacity at the airport and assist one of our community’s key economic generators.”
       
        Orlando Sanford Airport has grown significantly in the past decade and is currently in the top 20% of busiest airports in the country.  In 2009, Orlando Sanford Airport hosted over 1.7 million passengers and contributed more than $2.5 billion to our local economy in the same year.
       
         Congressman Mica concluded, “These enhancements will ensure that the Orlando Sanford International Airport is one of the safest aviation facilities in Central Florida and in our national aviation system.”
       
        (This funding was awarded by the FAA and was not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, sometimes referred to as the stimulus.)