WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the Federal Aviation Administration will award $185.1 million in airport infrastructure grants to 107 airports in 40 states across the United States as part of the FAAs Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

The airport grant program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and markings which helps to create thousands of jobs.

AIP grants will allow airports to complete critical airport infrastructure projects that will help maintain the safety of the nations airports, said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta.

Airports are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year, based on passenger volume. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, then the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding. At this time, FAA is providing discretionary funding to five airports based on their high-priority project needs.

Those receiving discretionary grants are listed here, while the entitlement grant recipients can be found at the link below:

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, AK, $17.1 million to reconstruct Taxiway Yankee and the taxiway lighting system.

Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, AK, $7 million to fund several projects including repairs to the apron where aircraft park and Taxiway Quebec used by aircraft to enter and exit the runway.

Gambell Airport in Gambell, AK, $8 million funds will be used to make repairs to Runway16/34 and the taxiway.

Nuiqsut Airport in Nuiqsut, AK, $1.3 million to fund repairs to Runway 5/23.

Ankeny Regional Airport in Ankeny, AK, $1.5 million the grant will fund the construction of a wildlife fence to help prevent wildlife hazards at the airport.

Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, IA, $13.3 million to make repairs to Runway13/31.

Fort Dodge Regional Airport in Fort Dodge, IA, $2.5 million to repair the aircraft parking area also known as the apron.

McPherson Airport in McPherson, KS, $1.9 million the grant will fund repairs to TaxiwayA.

Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia, MO, $2.7 million the grant will fund the reconstruction of Taxiway B.

Reading Regional/Carl A. Spaatz Field in Reading, PA, $1.8 million the grant will fund the construction of a wildlife fence to help prevent wildlife hazards at the airport.

Tweed-New Haven Airport in New Haven, CT, $3 million the grant will fund noise mitigation measures for residents near the airport.

Theodore Francis Green State Airport in Warwick, RI, $6.9 million funding will be used to extend Runway 5/23.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC, $7.9 million grant funding will repair the airports taxiway.

Those receiving discretionary grants are listed here, you can see a full listing of all grant recipients on our website.

The FAA will issue AIP grants to the airports over the next several weeks in time to take advantage of the spring and summer construction season. The grants will ensure the projects at these airports are either under construction or completed prior to the onset of the winter season, which comes early in late fall in some parts of the country.