U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna today announced $2,048,340 in federal funding for the Griffiss International Airport located in Rome. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This federal funding will enable the airport to revamp essential infrastructure, including their taxiway. With this funding, Griffiss International Airport will be able to ensure the safest possible transportation of grounded and taxiing aircraft throughout the facility.
“Regional airports drive the local economy and this much-needed federal investment will improve safety at Griffiss by making it easier for planes to taxi and land. These critical improvements are needed to keep Griffiss bustling. From its role in unmanned research, to regular charter service, Griffiss has become a hub for economic activity in Oneida County,” said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.
“This funding will help advance runway renovations at the Griffiss International Airport,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Investing in our airport’s infrastructure enables safer, more efficient service for the businesses and travelers who utilize it every day. I will continue to push for resources that enhance efficiency and public safety that New Yorkers can rely on.”
“I am pleased that Griffiss received this much-needed grant funding to improve its taxiway that is in need of repair,” Congressman Hanna said. “Griffiss plays an important role in Rome, in Oneida County and in our region as a whole. These upgrades will help keep Griffiss a premiere facility for chartered aircraft as well as its important role as a FAA test site for unmanned vehicles.”
“We are pleased that Griffiss International Airport has been awarded these essential grants,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said. “The dollars provided here will assist in key repairs and rehabilitation of our taxiway. Griffiss International Airport and the adjacent Business and Technology Park is a key economic engine here in Oneida County. This another positive step forward in the continued development of our airport. I thank Congressman Hanna and Senators Gillibrand and Schmuer for their efforts.”
This funding is awarded through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and is administered by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Funds obligated for the AIP are drawn from the Airport and Airway Trust fund, which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes, and other similar revenue sources.