WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today announced the award of more than $6.32 million in grants to make improvements at 15 local airports throughout Mississippi.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport improvement grants will support infrastructure construction, safety improvements, and equipment acquisition.  The grants, which range from $1.0 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

The following Mississippi airports, including grant recipients, are receiving FAA grants:

• Golden Triangle Regional Airport, Golden Triangle Regional Airport Authority – $1,000,000 for existing terminal expansion and safety equipment acquisition
• Key Field, Meridian Airport Authority, Meridian Airport Authority – $1,000,000 for apron and access road expansion, and equipment acquisition
• Hawkins Field Airport, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and the City of Jackson – $924,430 for runway rehabilitation and master plan update
• Greenwood-Leflore Airport, City of Greenwood and Leflore County – $863,836 for runway rehabilitation
• Fletcher Field Airport, Clarksdale-Coahoma County Airport Board – $429,000 for construction of an additional taxiway
• Stennis International Airport, Hancock County – $350,000 for replacement of 50 airfield guidance signs
• Poplarville-Pearl River County Airport, City of Poplarville - $304,411 for construction of a 3,000-square-foot hangar building
• Panola County Airport, Panola County – $259,110 for apron rehabilitation and a master plan study
• Tishomingo County Airport, Tishomingo County – $237,920 for drainage improvements, land acquisition to extend runway protection zone, and building obstruction removal
• Calhoun County Airport, Calhoun County – $224,235 for apron and taxiway rehabilitation
• Winona-Montgomery County Airport, City of Winona and Montgomery County – $216,000 for construction of a 4,468-square-foot hangar building
• Monroe County Airport, Monroe County – $198,000 for installation of a new vertical/visual guidance system
• Belzoni Municipal Airport, City of Belzoni – $150,000 for construction of a single pump fuel facility
• Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport, Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport Board – $94,500 for updates to the airport master plan narrative report and airport layout plan
• Booneville-Baldwyn Airport, Prentiss County – $76,500 for updates to the airport master plan narrative report and airport layout plan

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.