Tester Announces $202,000 to Expand Runway at Deer Lodge Airport

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Deer Lodge City County Airport will receive $202,690 to expand its runway.

“The Deer Lodge Airport connects friends and family, creates good-paying jobs, and helps first responders during emergencies,” said Tester, a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. “For every dollar we invest in our transportation infrastructure we see returns to the economy. These resources will expand the runway to make it safer and help bring the Deer Lodge Airport into the 21st century.”

Tester secured funding for these airports through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants to airports to improve or expand their facilities, runways, taxiways, and address other needs.

Tester last week supported the 2017 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that fully funds Essential Air Service, which connects rural airports with larger regional hubs. The 2017 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill is a must pass budget bill and it is waiting a final vote on the Senate floor.

Tester recently announced a series of additional rural airport grants earlier this year and he secured new state-of-the-art screening equipment for airports in Great Falls and Helena.