20 Arkansas airports receive $14 million in federal grants

Arkansas airports received $14.83 million in federal grants Friday (Aug. 9), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill will receive $3.88 million to support a project to build a new control tower.

The money comes from the latest round of 2024 Airport Improvement Program grants awarded by the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grants fund various projects to improve runways, airfields and airport facilities. On Friday, the FAA awarded $636.05 million to airports in 46 states and American Samoa.

“From passenger traffic to cargo operations, the Biden-Harris administration continues to make our aviation system safer, more accessible and more resilient through initiatives like the Airport Improvement Program,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Thanks to this latest round of funding, passengers across the country will benefit as we make airports from Rhode Island to American Samoa more modern and efficient.”

This was the fourth round of Airport Improvement Program grants for fiscal year 2024. So far, the FAA has awarded $1.13 billion in grants during the fiscal year ending September 30.

The XNA grant money will support the project to build a new air traffic control tower. With the new grant, the project has received more than $11 million in grant and federal funds. The 141-foot tower will be built by Crossland Construction and is scheduled for completion next year.

Below are the 19 other airports that received the money.
• Carroll County in Berryville: $418,435 to expand the runway.
• ZM Jack Stell Field in Crossett: $1.05 million for runway construction.
• J Lynn Helms Sevier County in De Queen: $388,656 to build a taxi lane.
• Billy Free Municipal in Dumas: $155,655 to resurface the runway and taxiway surfaces.
• Drake Field in Fayetteville: $240,210 for runway expansion and extension.
• Memorial Field in Hot Springs: $558,485 for renovation of the runway, lighting and markings.
• Jonesboro Municipal in Jonesboro: $141,300 for runway extension and widening.
• Ralph C Weiser Field in Magnolia: $218,044 for taxiway lighting replacement.
• Manila Municipal in Manila: US$299,444 for taxiway lighting reconstruction and runway lighting rehabilitation.
• Monticello Municipal/Ellis Field in Monticello: $316,566 for resurfacing of the runway and taxiway surfaces
• Morrilton Municipal in Morrilton: $318,277 to construct an airport lighting tower, install runway lighting, and replace runway and taxiway lighting.
• Bearce in Mount Ida: $924,474 for runway rehabilitation and taxiway resurfacing.
• Baxter County in Mountain Home: $100,043 to rebuild the runway optical guidance system.
• Osceola Municipal in Osceola: $525,079 to construct the terminal access road.
• Pine Bluff Regional/Grider Field in Pine Bluff: $2.08 million for runway rehabilitation.
• Russellville Regional in Russellville: $165,007 for runway reconstruction.
• Sheridan-Grant County Regional in Sheridan: $246,082 for resealing and resurfacing of the runway.
• Springdale Municipal in Springdale: $606,559 for resealing and resurfacing of the runway.
• Texarkana Regional-Webb Field in Texarkana: $2.18 million for apron construction.

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