The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $15,014,525 in grants to airports across Virginia’s Ninth District. The funds are designated for various construction and rehabilitation projects at several regional airports.
The grant allocations include $1 million and an additional $281,865 to the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission for hangar construction and runway rehabilitation, respectively. The Tazewell County Airport Authority will receive $381,100 for hangar construction. Blue Ridge Airport Authority is set to obtain $4,335,800 for a runway extension. Virginia Highlands Airport Commission will receive $5,225,960 for runway rehabilitation. Twin County Airport Commission will get $850,000 for a runway extension, $2,401,600 for a taxiway extension, and $538,200 for hangar construction.
U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who represents Virginia’s 9th district in Congress since 2011 after succeeding Rick Boucher (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000568), commented on the announcement:
“I am excited about the $15,014,525 worth of grants to our region’s airports.
“Structural and capacity improvements to airports in our region are worthwhile investments. The development of airports and air travel to our region help attract future investment, create significant potential for economic growth and contribute to the backbone for local businesses.
“I will continue supporting policies and submitting community funding project requests that attract financial capital and foster economic development in Ninth District communities.”
Some of the funding was secured through community funding project requests submitted by Congressman Griffith for Fiscal Year 2024. Other funds come from two FAA programs: the Fiscal Year 2025 Airport Improvement Program and the Airport Infrastructure Grant program.
Griffith has served as representative of Virginia’s 9th District since 2011 and previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2000 to 2010 (https://ballotpedia.org/Morgan_Griffith). He was born in Philadelphia in 1958 and resides in Salem. Griffith graduated from Emory and Henry College with a BA in 1980 before earning a JD from Washington and Lee University in 1983.
