WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators John Boozman and Mark Pryor, along with Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), and Mike Ross (AR-4) today announced that nine Arkansas airports will receive a combined $3,131,546 in Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) grants for new construction and improvement at their facilities.

“These airports are vital to growth in our communities.  The funding announced today will help these small airports expand and improve services, which will lead to more jobs and economic development in Arkansas,” Boozman said.

“A safe high-quality airport is critical to the economic development of a city,” Pryor said.  “These federal funds will help local airports improve and expand to better serve Arkansas’ travelers and businesses.”

 “It is critical that Arkansas airports meet federal safety standards,” said Crawford. “These grants will encourage economic development throughout the state and provide the necessary funding to ensure our First District airports remain safe.”

“A strong infrastructure is essential to economic growth,” Griffin said.  “These grants will help maintain and improve Arkansas airports that are critical to commerce and private sector job creation.”

“Our local airports connect communities all across Arkansas to the world and help sustain economic development throughout the region,” said Ross.  “These federal investments will help make the necessary infrastructure and safety improvements to keep these airports open and these communities growing.”

Airports receiving funding are as follows:

• Almyra- Almyra Municipal Airport: The city of Almyra will receive $432,000 to widen a runway at Almyra Municipal Airport.  The runway widening will allow the runway to meet the design standards of the airport.

• Magnolia- Magnolia Municipal Airport: The city of Magnolia will receive $480,000 to construct an apron at Magnolia Municipal Airport.  The apron will provide aircraft parking for airport users.

• McGehee- McGehee Municipal Airport: The city of McGehee will receive $396,308 to expand the apron at McGehee Municipal Airport.  The expansion of the apron will provide additional space for aircraft parking.

• Morrilton- Morrilton Municipal Airport: The city of Morrilton will receive $440,415 to construct a taxiway at Morrilton Municipal Airport.  The taxiway will eliminate the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway.

• Nashville- Howard County Airport: Howard County will receive $293,092 to rehabilitate and expand the apron at the Howard County Airport.  The funds will also be used to install a vertical/visual guidance system, which will make the airport more accessible to pilots.

• Newport- Newport Municipal Airport: The city of Newport will receive $237,209 to rehabilitate the runway at Newport Municipal Airport.  The rehabilitation of the runway is needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement to minimize foreign object debris on the runway.

• Paragould- Kirk Field Airport: The city of Paragould will receive $213,936 to construct a taxiway at Kirk Field Airport.   The taxiway will prevent aircrafts from having to back-taxi on the runway.

• Pine Bluff- Grider Field Airport: The city of Pine Bluff will receive $400,831 to rehabilitate a runway at Grider Field Airport.  The existing runway pavement has reached the end of its useful life.

• Searcy- Searcy Municipal Airport: The city of Searcy will receive $237,755 to construct a taxiway at Searcy Municipal Airport.   The taxiway will provide access to aircraft hangars.