The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced $1.9 billion for 519 grants in 48 states, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, in its fifth announcement under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). An additional $269 million was also announced in FY 2023 Supplemental Discretionary Grants to fund 62 projects at 56 U.S. airports. This competitive grant program under the Airport Improvement Program assists airport owners and operators in the development and improvement of our nation’s airport system.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is funding projects across the country that are making airports safer and more efficient for the passengers who travel through them and for the airport and airline employees who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make these complex systems run as smoothly as possible,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. “The grants we’re announcing today will improve airfield operations for dozens of airports and help ensure the U.S. retains its global leadership in aviation.”
This fifth round of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, the largest announcement in program history, funds a variety of projects including airport safety and sustainability improvements and airport noise reduction in airports of all sizes and across all parts of the country. For the first time, the grants include funding for the testing of technologies to reduce, mitigate, and remove contaminants caused by Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” which can contaminate air, water, and soil, and are harmful to human health.
“Today, we invest in our future —enhancing safety, improving sustainability and ensuring our infrastructure meets the needs of the traveling public,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E. “This funding helps ensure traveler safety, reduces the environmental impacts on communities, and builds more resilient airports nationally.”
Also being announced is a $2.9 million Military Airport Program (MAP) grant for Tipton Airport in Maryland. This grant will provide funds to the military airfield for the construction of a new terminal. The MAP provides grants provides grants for converting former military airfields to public use, which adds system capacity and reduces congestion at existing airports experiencing significant delays.
The 2023 Supplemental Discretionary Grant Program provides grants to eligible airports for improvement projects including:
- Development of resilient airfield infrastructure improvements.
- Infrastructure required for on-airport handling and distribution of sustainable aviation fuels.
- Improving air quality at commercial service airports, even at airports in air-quality attainment areas.
- Energy and emissions sustainability projects.