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Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to Receive Nearly $24.1 Million in FAA Grants

September 1, 2020

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is set to receive $24,093,095 in grant funding to support airport infrastructure from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the federal agency’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“This is great news for Louisville’s airport,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “As the fourth busiest cargo airport in the world and second in North America – it’s vital that we continuously improve our airfield to ensure it’s ready to meet the current and future needs for both our cargo and passenger airline partners.”

The nearly $24.1 million in grant funding for SDF will help fund multiple projects including reconstruction of Taxiway G, pavement rehabilitation on both Parallel Runways and Taxiways B, D and E as well as improvements to airfield lighting and the lighting control system. It will all support on-going noise mitigation efforts for residential properties along the Preston Highway corridor and at the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus.

“More Louisvillians work at the airport than anywhere else in the city, so ensuring that Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport continues to stay on the cutting edge of transportation and logistics is crucial to creating an economy that works for everyone in our community,” said Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3). “With the travel sector hit hard by the economic freefall that’s resulted from the COVID pandemic, the nearly 70,000 families that rely on Louisville airport jobs are especially vulnerable. That’s why we insisted that the CARES Act include funding to help airports recover more quickly and help drive our economic recovery. I am proud to have supported this legislation and these investments in our airport and its employees.”

Each year, the FAA awards a formulated amount of AIP entitlement grant funding to airports across the country based on activity levels and project needs. Today’s announcement is part of more than $1.2 billion in AIP and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants awarded to 405 airports in 50 states and Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Palau and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Under the leadership of Secretary Elaine L. Chao, the U.S. Department of Transportation has provided $13.5 billion to strengthen the safety and efficiency of America’s airports. Visit www.FAA.gov for additional information on today’s grant announcement.