On September 9, 2024, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) announced that fifty-six (56) California airports were awarded a combined $219.5 million in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to upgrade aviation infrastructure. The funding comes through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which invests in airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, noise cancellation, zero-emission equipment, airport signage, airport lighting, and airport markings.
California airports in RCRC member counties that were selected to receive funding include:
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Monterey Regional Airport: $37.31 million. This funding will support four Monterey Airport projects, including the construction of a new 40,000 square yard commercial apron to conform with current standards; the acquisition of a new 3,000-gallon aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle to enhance safety; the construction of a new 66,500 square foot terminal; and the rehabilitation of 7,175 feet of existing paved Runway 10R/28L to extend its useful life.
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Del Norte County Regional Airport: $7.26 million. This funding will support the rehabilitation of 5,002 feet of existing paved Runway 18/36 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life.
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San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport: $3.57 million. This funding will support the collection and removal of uncontained contaminants on the airfield caused by aqueous film forming foam and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) waste resulting solely from aviation operations/field testing as well as the measuring of lab-proven innovative destruction technologies in order to reduce and mitigate the aviation impacts of aqueous film forming foam and other PFAS substances on surface and groundwater quality at or within five miles of the airport.
A complete list of AIP awards for California airports is available here.