The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that the Emporia Municipal Airport is among hundreds or airports in the country to clear the first round of possible funding for an infrastructure grant.
On June 8, the FAA announced $677 million in infrastructure grants, its first allotment of a $3.18 billion Airport Improvement Program. The Emporia airport is on the short list to receive $360,000 to acquire land for approaches, part of a runway expansion project being considered by the Emporia City Commission. Public Works Director Frank Abart says that amount could end up being higher or lower.
Abart says the $360,000 is the FAA’s guess as to what they may have to pay for their 90 percent of funding for a potential expansion project. The airport’s runway is currently 4,900 feet long and the FAA requires a 5,500-foot runway to accommodate 75 percent of aircraft. If the city proceeds, it would be required to make alterations to the nearby Emporia Golf Course. A timetable for the project is pending a decision by the Emporia City Commission to proceed. It could begin as soon as later this year or possibly by 2019.
Another area airport on the short list for FAA grants is the Coffey County Airport Authority in Burlington. The FAA says $225,000 is recommended for runway reconstruction there.
According to the FAA, airports can get a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.