Planning is underway for major projects at the Emporia Municipal Airport, with state grant funding set to be released in the next few months.
As KVOE News recently reported, Emporia is set to receive more than $600,000 from the Kansas Airport Improvement Program, which offers funds for rehabilitation, planning, and construction projects at public-use general aviation facilities. The dollars will be split between two planned projects: the relocation of the facility’s fueling station to the east side of the north apron and a needed renovation of the airport’s south apron.
According to Public Works Director Dean Grant, the south apron is in significant disrepair and is currently a hazard for both aircraft and individuals alike.
The upgrade will see the apron repaved and brought back up to standard, which Grant says will allow the airport to accommodate more aircraft in the future, which could mean a significant economic boost for the entire community.
$391,000 is being allocated for that project, with another $208,000 earmarked for the fueling station relocation. Grant says the relocation is connected to a planned extension of the north apron, which will help to improve traffic flow on the apron and for the airport as a whole.
Both projects will require matching funds from the city, however, Grant says the exact ratio is not known at this time. That said, Grant tells KVOE News, these grants traditionally operate on a 95/5 split for design work and a 90/10 ratio for construction.
The grant will be made available on July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year, and work will not be able to start on either project until at least that time. Once work begins, Grant anticipates the fuel station project could be completed later this year, while the south apron update may not be completed until the spring of 2026.
