Airport receives $2.5 million FAA grant

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Senior Staff Writer
| May 21, 2007 9:00 PM

Grant County International Airport still an economic resource

MOSES LAKE — Improvements to Grant County International Airport are amongst projects to airports across the state.

Grant County International Airport receives $2.5 million for infrastructure upgrades, including lighting and electrical improvements to fix a failing lighting system. The funds are also to be used to rehabilitate the runway.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., announced a total of nearly $10 million in federal support for airport improvement projects earlier in the week.

"Senator Murray understands Grant County International Airport is still an economic resource, not only for the region but for the state," said Shawn Bills, state press secretary for Murray. "Big Bend Community College houses their aviation program there, it is a diversionary airport for Sea-Tac, there's training there for Boeing, Japan Airlines, the military — there's a lot of things going on at the airport."

While the airport does not have commercial air service now, Bills said, the Port of Moses Lake is actively seeking a new carrier. Commercial air service ceased at the airport after the loss of a federal subsidy program due to low passenger numbers and high subsidy rates last year.

"The funding will help rehab a taxiway, which is going to create a more efficient flow of airplane traffic off the main runway, and also going to update their electrical system, which is very antiquated," he said. "It's going to purchase them some new generators which will also improve the safety of the airport."

Airport Improvement Program grants, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, provide funding for infrastructure improvements enhancing safety and efficiency at airports.

Murray, the chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees funding for the administration, helped secure funding in the Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations Bill.

"It takes care of a maintenance issue we've had down at the far end for some time," said Port of Moses Lake Commissioner Kent Jones. "And it upgrades the facility to take care of the heavy airplane traffic, heavy airplanes."

The project has been on the port agenda for four years, Jones added,

"Since we lost our million dollar annual entitlement, the FAA has been extremely thoughtful of us, helping us to take care of our maintenance issues out there," he said.