Senators announce $1.1 million for Montana airports

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Eight communities across Montana will receive a combined $1.1 million to improve their airports, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today.

The following Montana airports will receive federal grants:

• $143,539 for the Thompson Falls Airport to build a snow removal equipment building
• $115,707 for the Plains Airport to build a snow removal equipment building
• $21,307 for the Townsend Airport to install a runway lighting 
• $441,705 for the Fort Benton Airport to build a snow removal equipment building and a hangar building
• $71,553 for the Broadus Airport to build a fuel farm
• $183,907 for the Deer Lodge City-County Airport to build additional room for aircraft storage
• $40,937 for Bowman Field in Anaconda to buy snow removal equipment
• $125,000 for the Shelby Airport to examine the current runway conditions in preparations for improvement

“This is about bringing businesses, tourists and good-paying jobs to Montana," Baucus said. “This is good news for Montana’s cities and small towns. These dollars will bring good-paying jobs to our state while improving transportation for people who live, work and do business here.”

"Montana’s airports provide folks from frontier communities and rural areas essential connections to one another and the rest of the world," said Tester, a member of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees funding of federal grants.  "This new investment will create jobs now and upgrade our transportation infrastructure for the long haul."

The funding comes to Montana through the U.S. Department of Transportation.