Tester Announces More than $9 Million for Missoula International Airport

Grant to fund new terminal construction will help #ConnectMT

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester has secured more than $9 million in federal funding to help the Missoula International Airport construct its new terminal building.

The $9,208,268 grant was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and comes on the heels of an $8.7 million grant Tester secured for the airport last fall.

“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 Missoula 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.

“We would like to thank Senator Tester for his support as we move forward with our terminal project,” said Airport Director Cris Jensen. “Our new terminal is badly needed due to the amazing growth we have seen in passenger numbers and will better accommodate the flying public in the years ahead.”

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.