MV, DN airports receive State Aeronautical Board funding

Courtesy photo by Shahn Sederberg Aerial image of the Astronaut Kent Rominger Airport following the new runway dedication on Oct. 29, 2010.

WATKINS – Some of the state’s public-use airports will be getting some much-needed improvements after the Colorado Aeronautical Board approved $2 million to fund state and local grants from aviation fuel taxes.

Among the public-use airports to receive funding were the Astronaut Kent Rominger (RCV) Airport in Del Norte and the Monte Vista Municipal Airport (MVI). RCV received $27,778 in total which is slated for an Airport Layout Plan Update. MVI’s $388,889 total is listed for a Fuel Farm Installation.

Following passage of the American Rescue Plan in March, some additional, indirect funding became available. Due to provisions in the law, the $2 million in state aviation funds originally earmarked for federal matching funds were reallocated to support state and locally funded airport improvement projects.

These projects were previously programmed but deferred due to reduced revenues to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics.

“We are extremely grateful to the Colorado congressional delegation for advocating for our state during negotiation of the American Rescue Plan,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “The 100 percent federal airport grant share contained in the Plan allowed us to further leverage Aeronautics Division funding to support more airports across our state, from Delta to Walden to Lamar.”

Aeronautics Division Director David Ulane added, “The indirect benefits created for us by the 100 percent federal grant share provision this year are incredibly valuable and have allowed us to keep many of our state-funded airport improvement projects on track.”

Grants ranged from $25,000 to $400,000. This round of funding supported a wide range of airport needs, including airfield pavement maintenance and reconstruction projects and the purchase of snow removal equipment.

The Colorado Airport System consists of 76 public-use airports that support more than 345,660 jobs, provide $16.2 billion in annual payroll and $48.6 billion in total annual business revenue and output. Legislation was passed in 1991 to develop and maintain the state’s aviation system through taxes collected on aviation fuel sold within the state. No general funds are used to meet the needs of the Colorado Aviation System. It is funded solely through the taxes collected by those actually using the aviation system.

More information can be found at Colorado- Aeronautics.org. A comprehensive listing of each grant award can be found at www.codot.gov/ programs/aeronautics/ assets/docs/grant-reports/