Tester Announces $5.7 Million for Glacier Park International Airport

Grant to improve safety, expand terminal will help #ConnectMT

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester has secured $5.7 million in federal funding to help the Flathead’s Glacier Park International Airport expand its terminal and improve safety by purchasing new aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment.

The pair of grants totaling $5,770,739 were awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and come on the heels of a $2 million grant Tester secured for the airport last year, and the $7.5 million he secured in 2017.

“In a state as big as Montana, air travel is critical to keeping folks connected and this grant will make air travel in and out of the Flathead quicker, safer, and more reliable than ever,” Tester said. “Whether it’s by increasing tourism, facilitating business, or helping families and friends stay connected, our airports make our way of life possible.”

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Tester worked hard to reauthorize the Airport Improvement Program through last year’s FAA Reauthorization Act. And then, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured an additional $500 million in funding for the Airport Improvement Program in the 2019 budget bill.

“This grant is critical to Glacier Park International Airport’s capital improvement program and to ensuring the safety of the traveling public as airport traffic in the Flathead increases,” said Airport Director Rob Ratkowski. “Continued support from the Federal Aviation Administration and our congressional delegation makes consistent progress possible for our facility and we’re grateful to have their backing,”

Tester’s #ConnectMT initiative seeks to connect folks across Big Sky Country-both online and in person-by investing in Montana’s physical and digital infrastructure. Tester helped secure more than $20 million in AIP grants for Montana’s airports last year and has already secured more than $30 million in AIP funding this year. He also recently secured Essential Air Service funding in the February budget bill and he is pushing members on both sides of the aisle to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package to repair roads, invest in air travel, and improve access to broadband in Montana.