Levin Announces Over $18 Million for Detroit Metro and Flint Bishop Airports

WASHINGTON Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced today that the Department of Transportation has awarded grants exceeding $15 million and $3 million to Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Bishop International Airport in Flint, respectively, for renovations and expansions aimed at bolstering safety and efficiency. Earlier in the week, Levin announced grants for 12 other Michigan airports. Cumulatively, the grants to Michigan airports exceed $30 million.

"Detroit Metro and Flint Bishop are two of the most heavily traveled airports in our state, servicing millions of passengers every year," Levin said. "With this funding, travelers in Michigan will enjoy more efficient service in modernized facilities."

Detroit Metropolitan Airport will receive over $15 million to construct a new runway and apron and to acquire land for further development. Bishop International Airport in Flint will receive over $3 million to rehabilitate and extend its runway.

The grant awards combine entitlement funding, which airports receive from the Federal Aviation Administration annually, and discretionary funds, which are determined by a competitive selection process among airports which have applied for funding for specific renovations and improvements. Additionally, the State of Michigan was awarded a block grant in excess of $5 million which it can dispense to airports in the state at the discretion of the Michigan Department of Transportation for projects including construction and rehabilitation of runways, taxiways and aprons; lighting; land acquisition and obstruction clearing.

The following page lists all of the Michigan grant recipients.

-30-

Michigan Airports Receiving FAA Grants Source: Office of Senator Carl Levin
Airport/City	Award	Selected Renovations
Bishop International Airport Flint, MI	$3,337382	Rehabilitate and extend runway
Capital City Airport Lansing	$687,000	Runway rehabilitations
Capital City Airport Lansing	$306,000	Terminal expansion
Cherry Capital Airport Traverse City	$596,194	Conduct master plan study; Install security fencing
Delta County Airport Escanaba	$247,500	Remove obstructions; Acquire land for approaches
Detroit City Airport Detroit	$363,644	Rehabilitate and groove runway
Detroit Metropolitan Airport	Romulus	Construct runway; construct apron; acqure land for developement
Houghton County Memorial Hancock	$470,025	Improve drainage
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Int'l Kalamazoo	$1,325,808	Acquire land for approaches
Kent County Int'l Airport Grand Rapids	$1,439,014	Acquire land for approaches and development
MBS International Airport Saginaw	$826,022	Improvements to drainage system; Design rehabilitation of runways
Muskegon County Muskegon	$316,600	Acquire snow removal equipment; Expand terminal building
Pellston Regional Airport Pellston	$363,664	Acquire aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle
Sawyer Airport Gwinn	$363,664	Conduct master plan update; Rehabilitate apron
State of Michigan block grant	$5,616,459	Renovations, expansions and improvements to Michigan airports to be dispersed at discretion of MDOT