Sanford D. Bishop Jr.
Sanford D. Bishop Jr.
05/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2024 22:09
CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $270,000 IN FAA FUNDS TO EXPAND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT
CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $270,000 IN FAA FUNDS TO EXPAND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT
August 5, 2024
ALBANY, Ga. -Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., (GA-02) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has awarded the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport a $270,000 Airport Improvement Grant. The grant will fund the first phase of a project to design and rehabilitate 200 feet and 500 feet of two separate runways as well as additional paved operating spaces for airplanes using the airport.
"Once again, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering for Southwest Georgia through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 which I supported in Congress. The grant today will help make repairs to the runways and surrounding tarmac at Southwest Georgia Regional Airport which plays an important role in our local economy," said Congressman Bishop. "Projects like this that upkeep or expand Georgia's airports often require a lot of capital. I am glad that Congress is committed to being a partner to our airports so that they remain reliable gateways to our communities and maintain the integrity of our supply chain."
"The grant will fund the design work to rehabilitate Taxiway Sierra at the SWGA Regional. The City of Albany appreciates the continued support of Congressman Bishop, as he is an advocate for the SWGA Regional Airport and the SWGA Region," said Airport Director David Hamilton. "The grant award will help ensure the safety of passengers by providing a surface for pilots to maneuver safely on and off the runway."
Each year, people travel through Southwest Georgia Regional Airport which plays an important role in local tourism. It is also a major cargo hub and companies, like UPS and Federal Express and others, serve families and businesses throughout Southwest Georgia, Southeastern Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. The airport also supports U.S. military operations and servicemembers who live or work in the area.
In June, Southwest Georgia Regional Airport celebrated the opening of a new, $15 million state-of-the-art hangar and terminal. The project received support from federal funds over the past several years.
In the current fiscal year, in addition to the $270,000 received in this grant, Southwest Georgia Regional Airport also received over $1 million in federal funds made possible by the IIJA.
In April 2023, in the previous fiscal year, the FAA awarded Southwest Georgia Regional Airport a $235,980 Airport Improvement Program grant for a project to expand an apron, where aircraft are parked or unloaded/loaded. This was also made possible by the IIJA.
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