Last Thursday, Georgia’s Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff announced $2.5 million in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at a number of airports not named Hartsfield-Jackson. The funding is more of the steady trickle – or flood depending on how you want to count it – of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This round of funding is worth some $2.5 million via the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Infrastructure Grant program.
“Georgia is one of the most important aviation states in the nation. That’s why I’ve fought tirelessly to bolster federal support for our airports since I came to the Senate, including in the recently passed FAA reauthorization law I was proud to champion,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
The airports receiving the funding are in Macon, Cairo, Toccoa, Dublin, Reidsville and Sylvania. Most importantly, several of the airports will be receiving runway repairs and upgrades, as well as lighting installations, planning, and a parking lot. The Georgia Department of Transportation will be administering the funds and helping to implement the projects in question.
“Georgia’s airports are a key driver of job creation and economic competitiveness. Alongside Senator Reverend Warnock, I am pleased to announce the bipartisan infrastructure law will deliver this new funding for airport upgrades across the State of Georgia. Our bipartisan infrastructure law will continue to deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come,” Senator Ossoff said.
This round of funding follows a $13.5 million tranche that was allotted in 2022 for nine airports across the state, including in Augusta and Columbus. All Georgians are likely familiar with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta but there are 102 other airports scattered across the state, eight commercial service airports like Hartsfield-Jackson and 93 general aviation airports. A general aviation airport supports recreational pilots, flight training, business aviation and governmental agencies. Crop dusters – or more precisely “aerial applicators” – are also usually based out of general aviation locations.
According to a 2020 study from the Department of Transportation, all these airports support nearly 450,000 jobs, $20.2 billion in payroll, and $73.7 billion in statewide economic impact – an increase of more than $10 billion since the last study in 2010. Hartsfield-Jackson alone accounts for about 90 percent of the economic impact from the state’s airports but for the rural communities served by many of these general aviation airports, that $5 billion can be a critical part of the local economy. General aviation often gets a bad reputation as a playground for the rich but they are important not only for local business but also in case of emergencies or natural disaster.
A report from the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA), and the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released last year laid out the case for general aviation.
“Private and general aviation often gets a bit of a bad rap,” said Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “We wanted to highlight the importance of local airports as a lifeline for communities and as an economic driver.”
To learn more: https://aviationacrossamerica.org/economic-impact/
