September 18, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall, Announce Federal Funding for Tri-State and Mingo County Airports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), along with Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Wednesday announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $1.5 million in federal funding to enhance airfield operations at Tri-State/Milton J. Ferguson Field in Wayne County and the Appalachian Region Airport in Mingo County.

“Keeping our airports and its facilities safe and up-to-date helps keep our economy moving and attract businesses and residents, which creates jobs,” said Manchin.  “I am committed to making West Virginia a more competitive place to work and do business, and I am pleased that these funds will help spur the economic development that our state needs.”

“Investments in West Virginia’s local airports benefit the economy where they’re located and help protect the passengers they serve,” said Rockefeller. “The funding awards for the Tri-State and Appalachian Region Airports are a well-deserved and much needed boost that will help upgrade their facilities and ultimately improve safety and efficiency in their operations.”

“Aviation safety is just as essential on the ground at our airports as it is with traffic in the air.  Sound, modern infrastructure strengthens safety as well as a region’s economic outlook. Investing in airports, like Tri-State and Mingo County, is key in keeping the Nation’s aviation network operating efficiently to serve commerce and the consumer alike.  Nationwide, aviation traffic continues to increase, yet federal investments continue to lose pace with that growth.  When you sequester infrastructure investment, you choke both jobs and families’ futures,” said Rahall. 

Tri-State Airport Authority will receive a $967,862 grant to improve airport drainage and fund pavement repairs to its taxiway to ensure safe airfield operations. Additionally, Tri-State will acquire a Handicap Passenger Lift Device for its passenger movement area to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Mingo County Airport Authority will receive $567,021 to expand airside needs with the construction of a four-unit box hangar and a ten-unit T-hangar building to generate revenue and assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible. The federal funding awarded today was made available through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).