Davids Announces Federal Grant to Improve Garnett Airport Infrastructure

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $394,310 to Garnett Municipal Airport to reconstruct a crumbling runway. The award stems from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, which was supported by the bipartisan infrastructure law. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the law.

"When we make targeted investments in local infrastructure, our communities become safer, more efficient, and better equipped to handle future economic development and job growth," said Davids. "Our community is located in the middle of the country, so we are perfectly situated to be a national leader in shipping and logistics, which improves domestic supply chains and lowers costs for Kansas families and businesses. This new investment to improve aging airport infrastructure in Garnett will help ensure we can continue to move goods and ensure Kansans are safe while flying."

The Garnett Municipal Airport will utilize this federal grant to reconstructs 2,653 feet of runway, improving structural integrity and minimizing foreign object debris. In the past decade, inconsistent funding has prohibited the timely modernization of airspace technology and infrastructure. This award will help reverse that trend so American air travel remains the safest and most efficient in the world.

“This initiative is a key component of the plan to upgrade the runway, originally constructed in 1947, to better serve modern aviation needs,” said Pat Schettler, Airport Manager, Garnett Municipal Airport. “The project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was made possible with the support of Federal representatives, the KDOT, and local officials. It will enable the airport to support the community with air ambulance services, business aviation, and agricultural spraying.”

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In all, more than $3.3 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure law funding has been announced for Kansas, including $87.3 million for airports, with more than 376 specific projects identified — from lead pipe replacement in Olathe to safety initiatives in KCK to long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.