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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the Kentland Municipal Airport, an important local economic engine, will receive federal assistance for its runway extension project. The infrastructure improvements will create immediate construction jobs and help increase the airport’s ability to spur local economic development into the future.
“Airports are an important element of the local economic infrastructure that can help generate commerce and spur economic development,” said Visclosky. “In Kentland, efforts are underway to utilize the airport to create economic opportunities for local residents and attract new businesses to the area. These improvements to the airport mean construction jobs today will lay the foundation for increased economic development tomorrow.”
Kentland Municipal Airport serves six counties in Indiana and Illinois. The airport has numerous business flights in and out daily and its viability is essential in the town’s attempts to lure companies to the area. Further, the airport serves as a base for aerial crop dusters, which benefits the surrounding agricultural lands.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $323,000 grant to Kentland Municipal Airport that will go toward burying and lowering utility lines in the approach to Runway 9. The work is part of the efforts to extend Runway 9/27, which will provide the runway length needed for the critical aircraft using the airport.
The funding was awarded through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, which is intended to support improvements related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns. To be eligible for a grant, an airport must be included in the National Plan for Integrated Airport Systems, which identifies public-use airports that are important to public transportation and contribute to the needs of civil aviation, national defense, and the postal service. |
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