Tester Secures $3.4 Million for Missoula Airport

Funding comes from the Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

As a direct result of his bipartisan infrastructure law, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $3,429,372 for Missoula Airport. This funding will go towards construction of the new 145,000 square foot terminal to reduce delays and accommodate more passengers.

This funding comes from Tester’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Tester negotiated the IIJA with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and President Biden, and was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to support the legislation.

“With more people flying in and out of Missoula every day, this new terminal will have a big impact on the local economy and is critical to meet growing demand,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to make air travel in and out of Missoula safer, quicker, and more efficient, and I’ll continue working to ensure Montana’s airports have the resources they need to thrive.”

Tester has led the charge to upgrade Montana’s airport infrastructure. In February, he secured $6 million to support the Missoula Airport’s expansion project. Tester secured approximately $144 million for Montana’s airports through the IIJA, which will be awarded over five years between 2022 and 2026. This funding can be used to construct or repair runways and taxiways as well as make terminal and gate improvements. Tester has also led the effort to lower costs and expand access to reliable air service in rural communities.

In May, Tester successfully included key priorities to increase affordable air service in legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Small Community Air Service Enhancement Act that will help small airports compete for grants to attract new air carrier service to their communities and reauthorization of the Essential Air Service program (EAS) to ensure Montana’s rural communities continue to have airline service options connecting them to larger hubs.