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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the Porter County Municipal Airport, an important local economic engine, will receive federal assistance to construct a taxiway and conduct wildlife hazard assessments. The infrastructure improvements will create jobs immediately and help increase the airport’s ability to spur local economic development in the future.
“Airports help generate business and spur economic development,” said Visclosky. “This work at the airport will result in construction jobs today that will lay the foundation for increased economic opportunities tomorrow. The busy airport plays an important role in the local economy and advances commerce in the region.”
According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Porter County Municipal Airport is home to more than 150 aircraft and supports nearly 37,000 aviation operations annually. The airport will utilize a $303,278 grant from the FAA to construct taxiways and to conduct a Wildlife Hazard Assessment. The work will include bituminous pavement for Taxiways D1 and E1 that is needed to provide aircraft access to the new Northwest Corporate Development Area, and the Wildlife Hazard Assessment will identify the wildlife species observed and assess their numbers, locations, local movement, and daily and seasonal activities. These projects are consistent with the airport’s efforts to meet the growing community needs and stimulate future business in the area.
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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