WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today announced Tuesday the award of more than $6.32 million in grants to make improvements at 15 local airports throughout Mississippi, including the one in Coahoma County.
Fletcher Field Airport and the Clarksdale-Coahoma County Airport Board are scheduled to receive $429,000 for construction of an additional taxiway at the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport improvement grants will support infrastructure construction, safety improvements, and equipment acquisition.
The grants, which range from $1 million for the Golden Triangle Airport to $76,500 for the Bonneville-Baldwyn Airport, are funded through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and federal appropriations.
“These FAA grants will help preserve and expand the capacity of our state’s airports to provide residents and visitors with a fast, safe and efficient transportation option,” Wicker said.
“Reliable air service is not only convenient, but will also help bring more tourism and business investment to all parts of Mississippi.”
“Improving airport infrastructure is necessary to ensure safe operations and helpful in promoting local airports for economic growth. Several of these grants, particularly hangar and terminal construction, are intended to help rural airports become more self-sustaining aviation facilities,” Hyde-Smith said.
In June, the FAA also approved $2.37 million in airport improvement grants for aviation facilities in Okolona, Oxford, Philadelphia, Picayune, Ripley, Vicksburg, West Point, Wiggins, and Yazoo City.
