(The Center Square) — The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Georgia nearly $14.3 million to help rehabilitate nonprimary airports statewide, officials said.
The money, part of $636 million for 320 grants in 46 states and American Samoa, ostensibly aims to improve airport infrastructure. It was awarded as part of the 2024 Airport Improvement Program’s fourth round of grants, and the Georgia award includes more than $13.3 million in entitlement spending and $924,275 in discretionary spending.
The federal tax dollars will go to the Georgia State Block Grant Program, which supports airports categorized as “other than primary.” The Peach State began participating in the FAA’s State Block Grant Program in 2008, and the Georgia Department of Transportation will administer the money.
Under the program, which began in 1989, states administer federal Airport Improvement Program grants and determine the locations that receive project funds.
A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Transportation did not respond to a request for more information about how the state plans to use the grants.
The money is just the latest in federal tax dollars flowing into the Peach State for airport projects.
In May, the FAA announced more than $1.5 million for the Georgia State Block Grant Program to build or improve parking lots, rehabilitate runways, replace runway markings and signage and update airport master plans or studies. The feds also announced more than $1 million to extend a runway at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon.
In March, the FAA announced more than $14.8 million in taxpayer money for airport improvement projects in Georgia, including more than $6.9 million to the Georgia State Block Grant Program. The feds also awarded $7.2 million to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to construct or improve a fuel farm.
By T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor
