11.20.19

Cantwell Announces $10M Grant for Safety Improvements at Grant County International Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake will receive $10 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for safety improvements at the airport. The money comes in addition to more than $9.9 million the airport received for improvements in September. 

“Moses Lake plays an important role for Washington industries like aerospace, manufacturing, and agriculture,” Senator Cantwell said. “Investing in airport infrastructure will help the regional economy continue to grow, create jobs, and keep building for future sustainability and success.” 

The AIP funding will help with runway safety upgrades at the airport, including fixing a line-of-sight issue and bringing runway lighting into compliance with FAA standards. The projects are expected to begin in the coming months and be completed in time to handle cherry cargo charters next summer. 

As Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, Cantwell has long supported the AIP and helped airports throughout Washington state get funding through the program. Cantwell helped secure full funding for the AIP in last year’s landmark five-year reauthorization of the FAA. From 2013-2017, Washington state airports received more than $380 million in grants from the program. 

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