As part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to improving aviation in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Aviation awarded $1.2 million in State Aid to Airports funds to the Asheville Regional Airport for a runway relocation project. The money will fund the design of the runway relocation and design of the temporary runway and taxiway.
Asheville Regional Airport is a commercial aviation facility that has an approximate $473.8 million a year impact on North Carolina and supports more than 1,700 jobs, based on a 2012 statewide economic impact study.
The State Aid to Airports Program is NCDOT’s basic airport aid program. This program provides funds for the purpose of planning, acquiring, constructing or improving municipal, county and other publicly owned or controlled airports, and to authorize related programs of aviation safety, promotions and long-range planning.
Airports are selected to receive grant awards through a prioritization program within the Division of Aviation. Projects are ranked based on factors such as safety, infrastructure health and mobility, as well as economic and demographic data. More than $17 million was distributed to 22 projects through this round of funding. The Division of Aviation anticipates awarding about $27 million total to airport projects through the grant program this fiscal year.