Congressman Marion Berry and Senators Lincoln and Pryor Announce Airport Improvements Throughout the 1^st District

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded grants throughout Arkansas and total more than $2 million for the first district alone.

“The airports of Northeast Arkansas represent a critical component addressing the business development and travel needs of the region,” said Rep. Berry. “These grants will help these airports increase the safety of facilities, expand existing runways and build new ones, acquire additional lands, and conduct environmental impact studies. All of these improvements will help ensure that our airports remain safe and viable as the district continues to grow.”

The grants for Arkansas’ 1^st District:

Kirk Field (City of Paragould – Greene County)

·                    To receive $150,000 for the construction of a taxiway and acquisition of new lands

Walnut Ridge Regional (City of Walnut Ridge – Lawrence County)

·                    To receive $150,000 to determine the environmental impact of extending runways

DeWitt Municipal (City of DeWitt – Arkansas County)

·                    To receive $54,000 to study and prioritize future development options

Manila Municipal (City of Manila – Mississippi County)

·                    To receive $249,999 to extend taxiways

Corning Municipal (City of Corning – Clay County)

·                    To receive $209,398 to replace the existing rotating navigational beacon and to extend taxiways

Frank Federer Memorial (City of Brinkley – Monroe County)

·                    To receive $450,000 to widen the main runway

Batesville Regional (City of Batesville – Independence County)

·                    To receive $800,000 to install perimeter fencing and to improve runway safety areas decreasing the potential for aircraft damage and loss of life should the aircraft undershoot, overrun or veer off the runway

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