Six south-central Indiana airports – including Salem’s – received part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $1.2 billion investment in airport safety and infrastructure grants through the Federal Aviation Administration.
Salem Municipal Airport will receive $286,111.
Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (IN-09), who represents parts of southern and central Indiana, supported the CARES Act in the House of Representatives and has been a longtime advocate for local airports as ways to attract and bring in more jobs and economic investment.
“Our smaller communities in Indiana have done an incredible job helping Hoosiers get back on their feet after the COVID-19 economic shutdown. Now, as we focus on building back up our economy, strengthening our local infrastructure is a key component of delivering jobs and economic development to southern and central Indiana”, said Rep. Trey Hollingsworth.
The grants will be used for a variety of projects, including extending and repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, improving airport fuel farms, and expanding existing general aviation aprons.
“This $1.2 billion federal investment will improve our nation’s airport infrastructure, enhance safety, and strengthen growth in local communities, which is especially important as the economy recovers from COVID-19”, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
This investment in America’s critical infrastructure and safety projects include $153,110 for the French Lick Municipal Airport, $166,666 for the Paoli Municipal Airport, $96,000 for the Freeman Municipal Airport (Seymour), $220,000 for the Monroe County Airport and $1,437,450 for the Virgil I Grissom Municipal Airport (Bedford).
The total includes over $1 billion from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $152 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) grants to equal a 100 percent federal share.
