The Airport Authority of Gulf Shores held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for a new air traffic control tower at Jack Edwards National Airport.
Funded with $6.13 million in grant money from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act, the project is now 100 percent funded by the federal government. Requirements that the Airport Authority provide 10 percent of the funding for the project were eliminated with the CARES Act. Officials with the Airport Authority said the $700,000 that had been set aside for their part of the tower construction would be reallocated to future projects.
JKA is the second busiest airport in operations in Alabama. The tower, once constructed, will rank in the top 40 of the 256 Federal Contract Towers nationwide.
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the grant was one of four for Alabama airports.
“This funding is significant for the state and will increase economic development opportunities in these communities as well as improve safety at these airports,” he said.
The project is slated to be completed in July 2021 and commissioned in Sept. 2021.
“Jack Edwards National Airport serves one of the fastest-growing regions of our state. The funds that the FAA has approved for this much-needed tower will enable the airport to take another step forward in servicing its customers and the Southwest Alabama economy,” U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) said. “In years to come, the airport will play an increasingly vital role in the continued development of Baldwin County. I appreciate the FAA approving these funds, and I look forward to continuing to support the airport’s growth.”