The Federal Aviation Administration recently opened the application period for the FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant program.
Funding will be used for projects that sustain, construct, repair, improve, modernize, replace or relocate airport-owned towers and install communications equipment.
The program will receive $20 million annually over five years through the Airport Infrastructure Grant program. Grants awarded under the FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant program are at a 100 percent federal participation with no required airport match.
Currently, approximately 156 airports have air traffic control contract towers eligible for funding. The towers are not staffed by FAA employees but by private companies, although the FAA pays them on a contract basis.
The program was founded in 1982 to allow the FAA to contract out the operation of certain low-activity towers.
Eligible airports must apply by May 16.
“This funding will allow airport sponsors to build or repair their facilities to meet safety standards and be environmentally friendly and sustainable,” Shannetta Griffin, FAA associate administrator of airports, said.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $1.2 trillion in infrastructure to rebuild, modernize, upgrade, and expand airports, ports, public transit, roads, bridges, and railways to improve safety, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities.