Tester Secures More Than $8.8 Million for Helena Regional Airport

Grant funding provided by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program

As part of his ongoing effort to ensure Montana airports are able to keep up with development projects during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Helena Regional Airport is receiving $8,846,916 in grant funding to construct a taxilane and rehabilitate an existing runway.

“In a big state like Montana, we rely on our airports to keep us connected and boost our local economies,” said Tester. “As our economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, our airports need to be able to continue development projects so they can keep up their critical role in that recovery. This grant will help Helena’s airport plan for the future and ensure that it’s able to continue serving the community for years to come.”

The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants to airports across the country in order to expand and improve America’s air travel infrastructure.

Tester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana airports are able to serve their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. He was the only member of Montana’s delegation to support the American Rescue Plan, which secured $32.8 million for Montana’s airports. Last year, he secured nearly $74 million for more than 70 airports across Montana to cover operational expenses and development projects during the public health crisis.