Press Releases
Arkansas Lawmakers Announce $2 Million Grant for Fort Smith Airport
Washington,
March 30, 2021
Washington, DC—March 30, 2021….Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3)—along with U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—today announced a $2,021,481 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The investment will be used for infrastructure improvements, including runway rehabilitation and enhancement. The members said, “The Fort Smith airport is a gateway to the River Valley. Our region continues to grow, and it’s important local aviation facilities keep pace with future needs. This infrastructure investment will drive economic development and opportunities throughout the greater valley area, while also upgrading facilities to ensure the safety of travelers and pilots from take-off to landing. We remain committed to securing resources for modernization efforts throughout Arkansas.” Michael Griffin, Fort Smith Regional Airport Director, said, “We are extremely grateful for this critical infrastructure investment. The funding will be used to resurface Runway 7/25, which is our most used runway at the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The upgrades to this 8,017-foot runway will directly support our facility, jobs, and community.” The DOT grant will be disbursed through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides funding for the planning and development of public-use airports that are significant to national air transportation. The project will consist of milling the existing asphalt and repaving the 8,017-foot runway, which was last resurfaced in 1996, to improve the airport and help spur economic growth opportunities. Congressman Womack—who sits on the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee—and Senators Boozman and Cotton have continually fought for federal investments that improve vital infrastructure, create jobs, and support residents throughout the Natural State. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ###
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