U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award an airport improvement grant to the West Liberty Airport. The $21,866 grant will fund the completion of safety improvements being made to the airport’s apron.

“This grant allows the West Liberty Airport to make necessary improvements which is an important step to open up Morgan County and the surrounding communities to additional transportation options as the airport continues to expand,” said Rogers. “In these challenging economic times, I am delighted to see the federal government get behind our smaller general aviation airports, which serve as critical job creators and are instrumental in attracting businesses to invest in our region.”

With these funds, the airport will be able to bring the apron, the area in which planes are loaded, unloaded and maintained, up to the most current FAA standards. The airport experiences roughly 50 aircraft operations per week. Grants are awarded through the FAA, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for the safety of civil aviation. The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports, including improvements related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rogers works to secure funding for important initiatives in the fifth Congressional District.