CLEVELAND — Calling it 'great for the economy and the people of Ohio,' President Donald Trump has announced the awarding of nearly $19 million in grant money from the Department of Transportation to several airports across the state.
"I am designating $18.9 million from @USDOT to MANY airports in Ohio, including @goingplacescle, @CAKairport, and several others, for improvements, updates, and safety," the president tweeted.
The bulk of the money will be given to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which will receive over $15 million for the construction of a taxiway.
Ohio is one of 41 states receiving more $273 million in airport safety and infrastructure grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The grants will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects, including the purchasing aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment, constructing runways and taxiways, repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, conducting airport master plan studies and installing airport perimeter fencing.
“This $273 million federal investment in our nation’s airports will strengthen safety, improve travel, generate jobs, and benefit local communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
Here is a breakdown of how the grants will impact airports in Northeast Ohio:
- Akron-Canton Regional Airport: $1.133 million for snow removal equipment, constructing service road, install miscellaneous NAVAIDS, rehabilitate
apron, rehabilitate taxilane, rehabilitate taxiway, rehabilitate taxiway lighting - Burke Lakefront Airport: $94,745 to rehabilitate taxiway
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport: $15.2 million to construct taxiway
- Put-in-Bay Airport: $124,800 to acquire snow removal equipment
- Ravenna/Portage County Airport: $76,724 for obstructions marking/lighting/removal