Gov. Hickenlooper announces grants to improve airport infrastructure in Colorado

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 -- Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today he approved distribution of $11.5 million in state aviation fuel tax revenues through 46 grants to Colorado airports under the Aviation Discretionary Grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Division of Aeronautics.

The grants, ranging in size from $3,947 to $400,000, will leverage local and – in 22 of the projects – federal funds to total $94.68 million for various airport projects. The projects include runway lighting improvements, runway maintenance and construction to wildlife fencing. A complete listing of all grants is attached. The listing includes the governmental unit, authority, or association receiving the funds, funding totals, and details of the approved projects.

“We must have an accessible airport system if Colorado is going to continue as a world-class, year-round destination,” Hickenlooper said. “These airports are vital to the state’s economic development, quality of life, recreational access and our overall mobility. Combining the state aviation fuel taxes with local and federal funding will fund much-needed projects that might not otherwise have been possible.”

The statutorily-based program, which began in 1992, receives grant proposals from any Colorado public-use airport. These proposals are evaluated by CDOT Aeronautics staff and approved by the Colorado Aeronautical Board, which is comprised of aviation community representatives appointed by the Governor and approved by the Colorado Senate. The Governor then reviews the Aeronautical Board decisions and has 30 days in which to comment and/or approve

“Over the years, the state has been able to be a true partner to our public use airports by distributing more than $60 million through these grants,” noted Colorado Aeronautical Board Chair Harold Patton of Greenwood Village. “This year, 46 airports statewide will be undertaking projects to improve safety and convenience for airlines, pilots, airport operators, and the public. This grant program is a true Colorado success story.”

Colorado communities/airports receiving the grants are listed below:

• Akron/Colorado Plains Regional Airport
• Alamosa/San Luis Valley Regional Airport
• Aspen/Pitkin County Airport
• Boulder Municipal Airport
• Buena Vista/Central CO Regional Airport
• Burlington/Kit Carson County Airport
• Canon City/Fremont County Airport
• Centennial Airport/Denver Metro Area
• Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
• Cortez/Montezuma County Airport
• Delta County/Blake Field
• Durango/La Plata County Airport
• Eagle County Regional Airport
• Eric Municipal Airport
• Ft. Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport
• Fort Morgan Municipal Airport
• Watkins/Front Range Airport
• Grand Junction Regional Airport
• Greeley-Weld County Airport
• Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport
• Hayden/Yampa Valley Regional Airport
• Holyoke Municipal Airport
• Kremmling/McElroy Field
• Lamar Municipal Airport
• Las Animas/Bent County Airport
• Leadville/Lake County Airport
• Limon Municipal Airport
• Longmont/Vance Brand Airport
• Meadow Lake Airport/Monument Hill Area
• Meeker Airport
• Montrose Regional Airport
• Nucla/Hopkins Field, Montrose County
• Paonia/North Fork Valley Airport
• Pueblo Memorial Airport
• Rangely Airport
• Rifle/Garfield County Regional Airport
• Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport/Jefferson County
• Salida/Harriet Alexander Field
• Springfield Municipal Airport
• Steamboat Springs/Bob Adams Field
• Telluride Regional Airport
• Walden-Jackson County Airport
• Walsenburg/Spanish Peaks Airfield
• Westcliffe/Silver West Airport
• Wray Municipal Airport
• Yuma Municipal Airport

Click here to view a spreadsheet of grant details