Warnock announces new round of state aviation grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. the Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., a member of the Senate Commerce Committee that oversees transportation policy, has announced a new series of federal grants for non-primary airports across Georgia. The grants were awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and will be administered by the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve infrastructure and enhance traveler safety and experience.

As part of the new series of grant awards, Augusta Regional Airport will receive more than $590,000 to reconstruct and upgrade its waning taxiway.

“Georgia is one of the most important aviation states in the nation, and as a member of the committee responsible for aviation policy, I will continue working to make Georgia a hub of transportation innovation,” Warnock said in a news release. “This new investment is a testament to the good we can accomplish when we reach across the aisle and center the people in policymaking.”

A long-time champion for Georgia’s aviation priorities, Warnock recently introduced the AIRWAYS Act to bolster aviation work force development, as well as other legislative proposals he is working to include in this year’s FAA re-authorization.

In April, Warnock met with local aviation workers and leaders at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing folks on the frontlines of the aviation industry. This year, Warnock has announced a series of federal investments in Georgia’s airports and aviation economy, including May’s announcement of $12 million for Georgia’s airports and April’s announcement of $3.4 million for Georgia’s small, rural, and regional aviation infrastructure.

In March, the Senator announced a similar investment of $1.5 million from the Airport Improvement Program. Last year, Warnock secured $13.5 million to update nine airports across Georgia, including Augusta Regional Airport and Columbus Airport. The Senator also previously announced $6 million in grants from the Department of Transportation to improve the travel experience at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included roughly $619 million for Georgia’s airports to improve efficiency, upgrade terminals, and more.

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