Grants To Allow Upgrades And Safety Enhancements

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced the nine Pennsylvania airports that won grants to make upgrades and safety enhancements Friday.  The $10 million Aviation Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program.is funded through state capital bond dollars and administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation.

"By making smart state investments in aviation, we can help ensure that the commonwealth's airports are running safely and efficiently," Governor Rendell said. "This investment will not only allow these airports to make necessary enhancements, it will also help them to further stimulate local economies."

The program is funded through state capital bond dollars and administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation.

And the winners are....

• John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport -- $350,000 to install above-ground fuel tanks and remove underground tanks.
• Erie International Airport Tom Ridge Field -- $2.7 million for the next phase of a runway extension project.
• Indiana County/Jimmy Stewart Field -- $664,900 for the next phase of a runway extension project.
• DuBois Regional Airport -- $635,100 to construct an air commerce park that will enhance economic development at the airport.
• Lehigh Valley International Airport -- $3 million to continue renovations to the airport's terminal building, providing economic and safety enhancements.
• Bradford Regional Airport -- $900,000 to construct a hangar facility within a Keystone Opportunity Zone on airport property.
• Philadelphia International Airport -- $800,000 to rehabilitate and repair of Runway 9R/27L.
• Venango Regional Airport -- $450,000 to construct a community hangar, providing increased aircraft storage capacity at the airport.
• Rostraver Airport -- $500,000 toward construction of aircraft hangars to meet the airport's growing need for aircraft storage.

FMI: www.dot.state.pa.us