WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today announced the award of $7.99 million for improvements to four airports in Mississippi. The grants will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“This round of grants will help airports across our state make important safety upgrades and purchase much-needed equipment,” Wicker said. “These large awards are a testament to the strength of their applications and their plans to improve their facilities for Mississippians.”

“These FAA resources will support safety and infrastructure improvements at airports serving Meridian, Greenville, Starkville, and Tupelo. Improving these facilities should increase their value as assets that broaden the appeal of each community as economic hubs in our state,” Hyde-Smith said.  “I will continue to support transportation and infrastructure priorities that benefit Mississippi’s economy and its communities as we work on appropriations for FY2020.”

The FAA grants for Mississippi will support the following airport improvement projects:

• Key Field, Meridian - $4,515,033 to acquire equipment, reconstruct and rehabilitate taxiway, rehabilitate an access road, improve airport drainage, conduct a study, install perimeter fencing, rehabilitate runway, and rehabilitate taxiway lighting
• Greenville Mid-Delta Airport, Greenville  - $2,375,306 to improve runway safety, acquire an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle, and acquire miscellaneous equipment 
• Tupelo Regional, Tupelo - $741,000 to acquire an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle 
• George M. Bryan Airport, Starkville - $356,749 to acquire land for approaches