WASHINGTON – Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has released $4,495,260 in funding for airports across the state of Mississippi. 
 
Sen. Cochran said: “Infrastructure improvements to our state’s airports will provide needed enhancements to their operations, help stimulate the local economy through construction, and will hopefully spur greater incentive for tourism.  I am pleased to hear federal funding will be provided to so many regions of our state.”

Sen. Wicker said: “These federal dollars will provide for needed airport infrastructure improvements across Mississippi.  In addition to increasing efficiency, safety, and security at our airports, these infrastructure projects will provide an economic boost in communities across the state.”    
 
Funds have been awarded to the following airports:

• Calhoun County Airport: $90,145 to install perimeter fencing.  The fence will help prevent deer from gaining access to the airfield.
• City of Corinth and Alcorn County – Roscoe Turner Airport:  $79,630 to improve the airport’s drainage, which will prevent erosion from undermining the airfield pavement.  The funds will also provide for new airfield signage. 
• City of Forest – G.V. Sonny Montgomery Airfield:  $66,426 to rehabilitate the runway.
• City of Meridian and City of Lauderdale – Key Field:  $481,235 to relocate an antenna from one side of the runway to the other.  The relocation is needed to accommodate a parallel taxiway that is being constructed. 
• Columbus-Lowndes County Airport: $192,420 to provide site preparations for the construction of new t-hangers and a new taxiway.
• Golden Triangle Regional Airport: $324,924 to renovate the terminal, which will help accommodate the movement of passengers and baggage at the airport.
• Gulfport Biloxi Regional Airport: $1,096,478 for the final phase of the terminal modification program.  This phase will provide a covered and protected walkway for passengers to access the terminal building from the parking lot. 
• Jackson Municipal Airport Authority - Hawkins Field:  $273,693 to improve airport drainage, which will help prevent pavement failures due to soil erosion and to install airfield signage.
• Kosciusko-Attala County Airport: $136,401 to improve airport drainage, which will help prevent pavement failures due to soil erosion.
• Louisville Winston County Airport:  $273,551 for tree removal, which will provide a clear, unobstructed approach to the runway.
• Leake County Airport:  $266,944 for rehabilitation and widening of the runway at the airport. 
• Marshall County Airport:  $71,918 for the construction of a fuel farm.  The new fuel farm will generate additional revenue for the airport.
• Monroe County Airport:  $86,948 for the construction of a terminal building and to improve the fuel farm, which will improve the efficiency of the fueling system. 
• Olive Branch Airport:  $68,073 to install perimeter fencing, which will prevent unauthorized access to the air operational area of the airport.
• Okolona Municipal Airport – Richard Stovall Field:  $83,070 for the construction of a t-hanger taxiway.
• Prentiss-Jefferson Davis County Airport:  $69,552 for the construction of a t-hanger taxiway.
• Ripley Airport:  $130,721 for the construction of a fuel farm.  The new fuel farm will generate additional revenue for the airport. 
• Tishomingo Airport:  $70,000 to install perimeter fencing, which will prevent unauthorized access to the air operational area of the airport.
• Tunica County Airport:  $177,890 for the construction of an access road at the airport.  The new road will provide access to the commercial terminal area at the airport.
• Tupelo Airport Authority:  $455,241 for rehabilitation of the general aviation apron and to widen the connecting taxiways to meet federal aviation standards.