Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi and U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, all R-Wyo., are pleased to announce nearly $8 million in federal grants for improvements to Wyoming's airports.

The grants will be distributed from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) which provides funding to airports to assist them in development and planning. Airports are able to use the money on projects that support aircraft operations including runways, taxiways, aprons, noise abatement, land purchase, safety and emergency or snow removal equipment.

President Bush asked for $3.4 billion for AIP funding in his fiscal year 2003 budget request to Congress in February. Wyoming's delegation is supportive of full funding of the AIP.

Funding for various Wyoming airports includes: Big Piney - $150,000; Buffalo - $300,000; Cowley/Lovell/Byron - $150,000; Dubois - $150,000; Fort Bridger - $150,000; Gillette - $1,644,321; Hulett - $1,500,000; Jackson - $419,400; Lander - $150,000; Lusk - $300,000; Powell - $150,000; Rawlins - $2,546,723; Torrington - $150,000; Worland - $300,000.