CARROLL, Iowa – Aug. 10, 2021 – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved $7 million for the fiscal year 2022 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms, and projects in Council Bluffs, Creston, LeMars, Mount Ayr, Sac City, Sioux City, and Winterset.

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will fund $4 million for a variety of aviation safety initiatives, system planning, and air service development activities. It will also provide funding for airport development projects at 22 airports in Iowa. Eligible AIP projects include runway, taxiway, and apron development; fuel systems; navigational aids; maintenance of aviation weather systems; runway marking; windsocks; emergency operational repairs; land-use planning; air service initiatives; and the mitigation of obstruction and wildlife hazards at airports. The AIP program is funded with revenue from aircraft registration fees and aviation fuel taxes.

Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $2.9 million for projects at 12 general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa. These programs provide funding for the maintenance and development of airport facilities, such as terminal buildings, maintenance facilities, and aviation hangars. Vertical infrastructure programs are funded from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.

In western Iowa, Airport Development funding projects include:

• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport – A total of $92,000 toward the $185,000 cost of the construction of a building approach slab and airport entrance sign.
• Creston Municipal Airport – $168,000 toward the $210,000 cost of fencing and entrance road drainage improvements.
• LeMars Muncipal Airport – $19,018 for a fence extension (total project cost $22,375)
• Mount Ayr Municipal Airport – $70,087 to replace airport lighting (Total cost $93,450).

General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure project funding includes:

• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport – $150,000 for the construction of an equipment storage building (total project cost, $357,600).
• Mt. Ayr Municipal Airport – $26,865 for the rehabilitation of an aircraft hangar (total project cost $35,808).
• Sac City Municipal Airport -$21,154 for the rehab. of an aircraft hanger (Total project cost $35,258).
• Winterset Municipal Airport – $150,00 for the construction of a new hanger (Total cost $550,000).

And, Commercial Service Vertical Infrastructure project funding includes:

• Sioux Gateway Airport – $134,800 for airport terminal projects (total cost, $180k).

Modal Transportation Bureau Director Tammy Nicholson notes that funding for the State Aviation Program has seen significant recovery from last year’s dip to $4.8M.She said, “A return to normal aviation activity levels has increased fuel tax revenues. Additionally, legislators were able to appropriate funds from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund to help meet significant vertical infrastructure needs at public-owned airports in Iowa.”

The State Aviation Program supplements local and federal funding sources and seeks to maintain a safe and effective statewide air transportation system. Details on the State Aviation Program funding can be viewed at  https://iowadot.gov/aviation/airport-managers-and-sponsors/State-Funding/state-funding-programs