Gov. Kelly announces nearly $19M for local airport infrastructure
State funding leverages federal and local matches for $95 million in total aviation improvements.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that the state is awarding $18.9 million to fund 53 airport development projects across Kansas, drawing on bipartisan-backed infrastructure funds to boost local economies and emergency services.
The grants are distributed through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program, which receives $15 million annually from the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, known as IKE. The 10-year transportation initiative, passed with broad bipartisan support in the Legislature, continues to serve as a primary vehicle for the Kelly administration's infrastructure priorities.
Kelly said state funding, combined with Federal Aviation Administration and local matches, will yield $95 million in total improvements to the state's aviation network.
The Kansas Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation received 105 applications seeking a combined $38.87 million for this round of grants. Fifty-three projects were selected, with a heavy focus on pavement maintenance, safety enhancements and improving air ambulance access.
Projects range from a $1.6 million allocation to pave a runway at Greensburg Municipal Airport to a $1.3 million grant for a new hangar and fuel tanks in Dodge City. The program also introduced multi-year phased projects this year to help smaller communities tackle large-scale improvements over time.
"Kansas airports are important components of our overall transportation system," KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed said. "By prioritizing safety and preservation today, we are building a transportation system that works for all Kansans well into the future."
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