Bloomington-Normal -  {U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, today announced that the Decatur Airport has been awarded a $1.9 million Federal Aviation Administration grant for taxiway widening.

“The Decatur Airport plays a critical  role in Central Illinois and this grant is an important element of the economic infrastructure needed to serve not just passengers but the commercial and agriculture sectors of this region,” Rep. Johnson said.

Airport Director Gene Marcinkowski said the grant should allow completion of much-needed improvements in time for the Farm Progress Show hosted by Decatur in late summer 2007.

“Decatur-area airline passengers, corporate-based aircraft, and visitors such as Department of Energy Secretary Sam Bodman who visited Decatur last week all are enabled to travel easier, do business faster and help grow the economy of Central Illinois as a direct result of FAA airport improvement grants,” Marcinkowski said.

In 2005, Rep. Johnson announced a $1 million FAA grant to modernize and increase the aircraft fire-fighting capabilities at the Decatur Airport. The new fire truck and related safety equipment is slated for delivery to the airport this spring.

###