WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) awarding of $2.8 million in grants to seven airports throughout eastern North Carolina.  The grants were awarded to make several critical upgrades to Martin County Airport, Northeastern Regional Airport, Tarboro-Edgecombe Airport, Tri-County Airport and Warren Field.  In addition, the grant funds will be used to remove runway obstruction at Oxford-Henderson Airport and to expand the runway at Plymouth Municipal Airport. 

“This grant comes at a time when shovel-ready jobs are needed to put people back to work,” Butterfield said.  “These funds will improve the accessibility, safety, and service for aviation passengers in eastern North Carolina.  I congratulate the grant recipients for their vision to upgrade these airports and I am pleased that NCDOT has shown commitment to improving air travel in rural communities.”  

The grants are made possible by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) administered by the FAA.  AIP grants are provided directly to NCDOT by the FAA, where they are subsequently assigned to high-priority projects and matched with state and local funds.  Congressman Butterfield voted for the AIP in November of 2011.

Yesterday, Butterfield supported a short-term extension to authorize funding for the FAA through February 17, 2012.  The extension provides time for the House and Senate to reconcile two different bills passed by each chamber last year.  

“Congress must not hesitate to pass a clean, fully funded, long-term extension of FAA programs, which will create jobs, increase safety, and improve infrastructure at rural airports like those in eastern North Carolina.”

###