IT'S OFFICIAL:  $1.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO GO TO ROCK COUNTY AIRPORT RUNWAY EXTENSION PROJECT

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved federal funding amounting to $1.5 million for the Rock County Airport runway extension project, and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation is expected to notify Congress of this approval within days. Congress had directed the FAA to provide this funding in last year's transportation spending bill. First District Congressman Paul Ryan fought to make certain that first-year funding of $1.5 million would be included in the spending measure, and he applauded the finalization of this funding.

"It's great to see the official stamp of approval on funding for a project we've worked hard to support and that is so vital to Rock County," said Ryan. "The runway expansion project will provide the General Motors (GM) plant in Janesville the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and strengthen its position in the area. This is critical for the thousands of workers in the Janesville area who are employed by GM and its local suppliers."

GM increasingly relies on the Rock County Airport to receive its last-minute deliveries of auto parts for production of the Tahoe, Yukon, and Suburban. In order to better accommodate these deliveries and serve area industry, the airport is in need of improvement.

In the past, Ryan met with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Jane Garvey about Rock County Airport, and he looks forward to continuing to work to secure the full federal funding request for this project.

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