05/22/12 — Airports receive $150,000 grants

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Airports receive $150,000 grants

By From staff reports
Published in News on May 22, 2012 1:46 PM

The Wayne Executive Jetport, Mount Olive municipal airport and Duplin County Airport are among airports to receive $150,000 each through the federal Vision 100 program.

Wayne County is using the funds for a light approach system update and a new fuel farm.

Mount Olive plans to use its funds as a match for a $1.5 million grant that will pay for the surfacing of the old part of the runway. In exchange for that arrangement, the town will, for the next two to three years, reallocate its annual Vision 100 funds back to the state.

Airports can use the funds for general airfield improvements, runway safety, runway extensions or, in the case of Duplin County Airport in Kenansville, be put toward construction of a new terminal.

Sampson County Airport in Clinton, the Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport and Johnson County Airport in Smithfield also received $150,00 each.

Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field received $189,270 for airport signs, fencing and terminal improvements.

The N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation awarded $9,639,270 in Vision 100 funds from the Federal Aviation Administration to general aviation airports across the state.

The Division of Aviation, as a participant in the annual federal Block Grant Program, administers the funds and manages the associated projects provided to the 63 general aviation airports. Normal airport operational costs such as salaries, mowing equipment and supplies are not eligible for funding.

Vision 100 funds are distributed by the FAA to states through the passage of the Wendall H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century in 2003.