51 of Louisiana’s airports are on the list to receive funding. The amounts range from $110,000 to more than $14 million.
“Building back better is not just a motto, it is actually happening,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D., President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “This investment will help us continue our mission to improve our aviation infrastructure to ensure a safe, modern, and well-managed system of airports which provides convenient and efficient access to the state for tourism, commerce, industrial interests, recreation, and economic development.”
“This injection of funding comes as airports are rebounding from the Coronavirus pandemic, which nearly halted operations,” said Renee Lapeyrolerie, LaDOTD Commissioner of Multimodal Commerce. “The investment will help backlogged projects takeoff and spur economic development across the state.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has given us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build safer and more sustainable airports that connect individuals to jobs and communities to the world," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "With this new funding, urban, regional, and rural airports across the country now can get to work on projects that have waited for years, modernizing their infrastructure and building a better America.”
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Louisiana airports can submit projects they wish to use the funds for to the FAA for review. The FAA is encouraging airports to prioritize projects that increase airport safety, equity, and sustainability.
The FAA is also planning to reach out to the minority business community about opportunities at airports across the nation.
The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $15 billion over five years for this program. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion.
