Stabenow and Levin Announce Over $3 Million in Grants for Two Michigan Airports

Saginaw and Traverse City Airports to Receive Funding

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded over $3 million in grants to Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City and MBS International Airport in Saginaw.

"I am pleased that MBS International Airport will be able to make these important improvements to ensure greater passenger safety," Stabenow said. "It is also exciting that this funding will allow Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport to move forward with its plans to construct a state-of-the-art terminal. We must constantly work for increased federal funding to help modernize our local airports and make them safer and more convenient for Michigan air passengers."

"Airports must meet the demand for quality facilities and air service," said Levin. "This funding means that Cherry Capital Airport can make final preparations for construction of its impressive new terminal which will benefit not just the airport, but the entire region when completed." Levin continued, "These FAA grants will allow MBS International Airport to update its master plan to accommodate its growth needs while at the same time making necessary safety improvements."

The federal grants are offered through the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to provide funding for key improvements to airport facilities. Through these grants the following improvements will be made:

• MBS International Airport servicing Midland, Saginaw and Bay County will receive $1,652,490 in federal grants to replace aging lighting and runway sensor systems, update the decade-old airport master plan, and reimburse the airport for the construction of a new aircraft rescue fire fighting building in 1999.
  
  

• Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City will receive $1,726,200 in federal grants to construct a new, state-of-the-art terminal building and provide aircraft parking gates and make final preparations for completion of the building project. The project with will be constructed over the next two to three years.