The St. Cloud Regional Airport was recently awarded a federal grant for $350,000 to help pay for improvements at the facility.

 

Two projects will be undertaken with the grant money, said Airport Director Bill Towle. The first is the pavement rehabilitation design of their T-hanger area, and the second is an environmental assessment looking into an expansion of hangar space in their general aviation area.

 

The airport’s T-hanger area was built in 1970 when the airport first opened and was last rehabilitated in the 1980s. Smaller private aircraft are stored in the area.

 

Additional T-hangers were built as the airport grew, and because they weren’t all built at the same time there is an issue with drainage. A large portion of the grant money will be used to hire a consultant to design the pavement rehabilitation that will correct the issue.

 

The airport will be applying for another grant to pay for the actual construction of the project, which they hope to start next summer.

 

The second project, an environmental assessment, is needed because the airport doesn’t have room to build additional storage hangars and the ones they have are full.

 

The environmental assessment will be the first step in the new general aviation development.

 

The grant is funded on a 90-5-5 basis. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) generally funds 90% of grants if projects are justified and meet their requirements. The State of Minnesota then funds half of the remainder, with the final 5% funded locally.

 

The FAA’s portion comes from an account funded by users, which includes a portion of airline tickets sales and fuel tax. Minnesota’s portion is similarly funded. 

 

The local share comes from a fraction of the half-cent local option sales tax in place in St. Cloud.

 

“Our congressional delegation really helped make this grant happen and we’re extremely appreciative of it,” said Towle.

 

Each year the St. Cloud Regional Airport applies for a federal grant through the Airports Capital Improvement Program; last year they received $4 million to extend their runways by 7,000 to 7,500 feet. The grants are awarded based on priority need.