Governor Kelly announces nearly $19M for 53 aviation projects across Kansas

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly today announced $18.9 million for 53 airport development projects across Kansas. By leveraging local matches, the awards will contribute $95 million in total improvements to the state's aviation network.

The funding supports the planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports, which are critical to the state's economy and emergency services.

"Investing in Kansas' airport infrastructure is crucial to enhancing the connectivity that fuels our local economies," Governor Laura Kelly said. "Through bipartisan collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and community leaders, we are leveraging state dollars to make vital improvements that benefit the entire state."

The Kansas Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation (KDOT Aviation) received 105 applications seeking a combined total of $38.87 million for this round of Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) grants. Projects were selected from around the state and focused heavily on maximizing the impact of state funding for pavement maintenance, safety enhancements, and air ambulance access improvements.

"Kansas airports are important components of our overall transportation system," said Secretary Calvin Reed, Kansas Department of Transportation. "The KAIP allows us to work alongside our local and federal partners to deliver a safe, reliable aviation network. By prioritizing safety and preservation today, we are building a transportation system that works for all Kansans well into the future."

The KAIP program receives $15 million annually through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). For the first time this year, the program also considered multi-year phased projects to help smaller communities tackle larger-scale improvements over time.

"These projects have a meaningful, real-world impact," said Courtney Smith, KAIP Program Manager. "Whether it's helping Greensburg pave its runway years after it was decimated by a tornado, or helping Sublette and Chanute support life-saving air ambulance operations, these investments keep Kansas connected."

Approved FY 2027 KAIP Projects

Northeast Kansas

• Johnson County Executive Airport (Olathe): $37,325 to construct Runway 36 runup area
• Lawrence Regional Airport: $201,690 to design Taxiway A pavement rehabilitation
• New Century Air Center (Olathe): $1,276,248 for Runway 18/36 construction, lighting and signage improvements, taxiway sealing
• Philip Billard Municipal (Topeka): $610,218 to rehabilitate taxilanes
• Sherman Army Airfield (Fort Leavenworth): $69,102 to seal civilian taxiway and apron
• Topeka Regional Airport: $357,012 for apron lighting
• Wamego Municipal Airport: $225,000 for Runway 18/36 surface treatment

North Central Kansas

• Abilene Municipal Airport: $292,500 to construct T-hangar
• Alfred Schroeder Field (Hillsboro): $250,115 to crack seal and seal coat pavement
• Belleville Municipal Airport: $54,000 to replace aviation fuel tanks
• Ellsworth Municipal Airport: $247,500 to construct taxilanes
• Hiebert Airfield (Goessel): $4,365 for Runway 18/36 water runoff project
• Mankato Airport: $243,000 for Phase 1 pavement rehabilitation and runway lighting
• Minneapolis City-County Airport: $19,440 to crack-seal runway
• Washington County Veteran's Memorial Airport: $1,200,000 for runway rehabilitation

Northwest Kansas

• Atwood-Rawlins County Airport: $78,300 to reconstruct terminal building
• Phillipsburg Municipal Airport: $562,500 to install above-ground fuel tanks
• Goodland Municipal Airport: $700,020 to install above-ground fuel tanks
• Russell Municipal Airport: $108,000 to reconstruct taxilane
• Shalz Field (Colby): $441,000 for site work for FAA-funded hangar project

Southeast Kansas

• Chanute Martin Johnson Airport: $479,900 for fuel farm Phase 1 and Runway 18/36 rehabilitation
• Coffeyville Municipal Airport: $394,740 to reconstruct hangar approach pavement
• Garnett Municipal Airport: $46,500 for runway reconstruction and realignment design
• Lt. William M. Milliken Airport (Eureka): $180,000 to reconstruct apron/taxilane
• Miami County Airport (Paola): $675,000 to reconstruct east taxilanes and hangar ramps
• Oswego Municipal Airport: $270,000 for runway preservation and crack sealing
• Ottawa Municipal Airport: $603,000 to design Runway 17/35 and parallel taxiway
• Tri-City Airport (Parsons): $536,670 for pavement portion of parallel taxiway project

South Central Kansas

• Anthony Municipal Airport: $220,410 to construct hangar access taxiway
• Cook Airfield (Rose Hill): $796,500 to widen Runway 17/35
• Captain Jack Thomas Memorial (El Dorado): $61,000 for Runway 15/33 rehabilitation
• Greensburg Municipal Airport: $1,600,000 to pave Runway 18/36
• Pratt Regional Airport: $31,145 to reseal joints and replace runway panels
• Stafford County: $90,000 for airport layout and planning (contingent upon public status)
• Strother Field (Winfield): $270,000 to crack seal and seal coat Runway 13/31

Southwest Kansas

• Harold Krier Field (Ashland): $281,700 for runway design and land acquisition
• Dodge City Regional Airport: $1,300,000 for new hangar and above-ground fuel tanks
• Hugoton Municipal Airport: $36,500 to reconstruct airport entrance road
• Jetmore Municipal Airport: $572,400 to replace navaids and runway lighting
• Kearny County Airport (Lakin): $1,112,500 for runway turnarounds and apron reconstruction
• Mark Hoard Memorial Airport (Leoti): $88,830 to install jet fuel tank
• Mid-America Regional Airport (Liberal): $127,500 to design new terminal building
• Ness City Municipal Airport: $405,000 for hangar taxilane reconstruction
• Satanta Municipal Airport: $119,250 for runway preservation and re-striping
• Stanton County Municipal (Johnson City): $495,000 to reconstruct taxilane
• Sublette Municipal Airport: $231,300 to construct apron
• Ulysses Airport: $800,000 to reconstruct west hangar taxilane

To learn more about KAIP, visit the KDOT Division of Aviation website here.

View a map of KAIP grant awards here.

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