FAA to award ILM with $5.4M grant to improve airport runway

WILMINGTON, NC (NEWS RELEASE) — Wilmington International Airport will soon get funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to improve an existing runway, according to a news release.

The release from Senator Kay Hagan’s office says she announced a $5.4 million grant from the FAA yesterday. The grant comes after ILM got a $1 million grant last week to add land for additional approach space, which will make landings safer, according to the release.

In the release, Sen. Hagan says the grant “will make crucial improvements to the Wilmington Airport runway that will make it a safer place for travelers and workers.” “It is critically important to North Carolina’s economy that we continue making investments in transportation infrastructure,” Hagan said.

“We are pleased to receive the grant for the runway because it has been 20 years since the runway had been rehabilitated,” said Jon Rosborough, Director of ILM. “The FAA grant for easements and obstruction clearing is an important safety improvement associated with the Runway 17-35 rehabilitation project we have programmed for construction 2014,” he said.