Airports are getting some help thanks to newly announced grants from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
$8 million will help fund projects across 39 Minnesota airports. MnDOT's office of aeronautics director Ryan Gaug says the state's economy relies on the robust airport system, which also helps when it comes to public safety.
"Our Minnesota airports serve as a critical base to planning and effectively battling wildfires when they do arrive," Gaug explains.
96 of the 132 airports in the state's system have access to federal funding. Meaning the others only have access to state or local funding.
"Providing a grant like this is a big boost in that economy and it keeps these little economic engines, that are the airports, keeps them running," Gaug adds. "The impact of our airport system, and it's a pretty significant number, most recently $18.2 billion."
Gaug says the money will help fund 57 ongoing projects across the state.
"One of our primary focus is on pavement improvements, so keeping the pavement safe that is usually the highest scoring type of project that we get requests for and they usually fare pretty well in our project selection process," he said.
Since 2022, the Aeronautics Capital Grant Fund has supported more than 260 safety projects at airports around Minnesota with so many not eligible for federal funding. Beyond just pavement, money will be used for things like turf rehabilitation, crack rehabilitation, and removal of obstructions on runways and taxiways.
“These projects reflect MnDOT’s ongoing commitment to supporting safe and sustainable aviation,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “Minnesota airports act as economic catalysts for all corners of the state, providing crucial transportation hubs to connect people, businesses and emergency services and vital centers for aviation training and job development.”
These projects are financed by the State Airports Fund, which is supported primarily through aviation fuel and sales taxes and aircraft property taxes and registration fees.
Airports receiving grants
- Airlake Airport
- Backus Municipal Airport
- Bemidji Regional Airport
- Bowstring Airport
- Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Brooten Municipal Airport
- Clarissa Municipal Airport
- Dodge Center Municipal Airport
- Duluth International Airport
- Duluth Sky Harbor Airport
- Fairmont Municipal Airport
- Fergus Falls Regional Airport
- Granite Falls Muni-Lenzen-Roe-Fagan Memorial Field
- Hawley Municipal Airport
- Hill City-Quadna Mountain Airport
- Litchfield Municipal Airport
- Little Falls
- Longville Municipal Airport
- Mankato Regional Airport
- McGregor – Isedor Iverson Airport
- Morris Municipal Airport
- Northome Municipal Airport
- Orr Regional Airport
- Owatonna Degner Regional Airport
- Pipestone Municipal Airport
- Remer Municipal Airport
- Rochester International Airport
- Roseau Municipal Airport
- Sauk Centre Municipal Airport
- Southwest Minnesota Regional
- Springfield Municipal Airport
- Cloud Regional Airport
- James Municipal Airport
- Starbuck Municipal Airport
- Stephen Municipal Airport
- Two Harbors Municipal
- Waskish Municipal Airport
- Willmar Municipal Airport
- Worthington Municipal Airport
