Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement applauding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announcement of grants to five local airports in Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District:

“Airports are a valuable component of our nation’s transportation infrastructure and serve as an important economic development tool,” said Congressman Lucas. “These projects will further impact the economic successes in the Third District while also increasing the safety and emergency response capabilities of our communities. I commend Secretary Chao and the Department of Transportation for their commitment to strengthening our district’s infrastructure network, and I look forward to partnering with them in the future as we seek to improve infrastructure in Western Oklahoma.”

The grants- which range from $299,700 for the Fairview Municipal Airport to $27,000 for the William R. Progue Municipal Airport- are funded through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The five FAA grants, totaling $678,800, will support the following airport projects in Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District:

Fairview Municipal Airport, City of Fairview – $299,700 for runway rehabilitation and runway lighting rehabilitation.

Skiatook Municipal Airport, Town of Skiatook – $247,500 for installation of taxiway lighting.

Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport, City of Guthrie – $56,000 for terminal apron rehabilitation.

Cushing Municipal Airport, City of Cushing – $48,600 for rehabilitation of taxiway.

William R. Pogue Municipal Airport, City of Sand Springs – $27,000 for construction of detention pond to improve airfield drainage and prevention of erosion.

Background: The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants to public agencies — and, in some cases, to private owners and entities — for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).