Udall, Heinrich Announce $3.3 Million in FAA Grants for New Mexico Airports

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced more than $3.3 million in grants to support runway expansion, rehabilitation and other improvements at nine airports across New Mexico. Clovis, Grants, Alamogordo, Colfax County, Lea County, Questa, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Farmington and Santa Rosa will all receive funding from the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants.

"Local airports are an economic engine for many New Mexico communities, and these new grants will help make improvements to keep them strong," Udall said. "As a member of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations committees, I'll continue fighting for resources to strengthen all of New Mexico's infrastructure. Diverse and efficient transportation options help boost local economies and bring jobs to our state by attracting businesses and tourism."

"These investments are important to the safety and infrastructure of our local airports," Heinrich said. "The aviation industry in New Mexico drives economic growth and development throughout the state. By strengthening our transportation system, we can boost commerce, increase travel, and spur job creation."

The projects funded by the new FAA grants are:

- City of Alamogordo - $1,400,000 for the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport to help extend a runway to better accommodate local aircraft.

- Lea County - $562,333 for the Lea County-Zip Franklin Memorial Airport to rebuild 14,250 square yards of the existing general aviation apron.

- Colfax County - $383,800 for the Angel Fire Airport to fund pavement repair and rehabilitation of the Taxiway A edge drainage.

- Village of Questa - $323,277 for the Questa Municipal Nr 2 Airport to remove nearby obstructions.

- City of Santa Rosa - $214,200 for the Santa Rosa Route 66 Airport. $90,000 will fund an obstruction survey of the runway ends to support implementation of a localizer approach with vertical guidance. The remaining $124,200 will be used to reseal general aviation apron pavement and replace an airport beacon.

- City of Farmington - $201,000 for the Four Corners Regional Airport to help reconstruct three taxiways.

- City of Clovis - $150,000 for the Clovis Municipal Airport to purchase a power sweeper to maintain the airfield.

- City of Grants - $62,595 for the Grants-Milan Municipal Airport to help rehabilitate runway pavement.

- Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo - $47,861 for the Ohkay Owingeh Airport to design a building to store snow removal equipment.

Total: $3,345,066