U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that U.S. Department of Transportation funds are slated for improvements at the Morehead-Rowan County Clyde A. Thomas Regional Airport. The $182,292 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant will fund the second phase of installation for a new fuel farm, which lessens the need for regular deliveries of fuel.

“This grant allows the Clyde A. Thomas Regional Airport to make a necessary addition which is an important step to open up Rowan 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 airports and enhance their ability to provide a critical link in our region’s transportation system. The Department of Transportation has recognized both our hard work as a community and is rightly interested in future air service to this region.”

Since 2001, Rogers has secured over $5 million in federal funding for Morehead-Rowan County Airport, including funds for a soon-to-be constructed access road. This recent grant is vital for the creation of a fuel farm, which stores the necessary fuel for aircraft on site and helps to improve air quality and roadway safety by eliminating the need for regular deliveries of fuel.

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. For small primary, reliever and general aviation airports, such as those in Southeastern Kentucky, the grant covers 95 percent of eligible costs.

As a senior member of the House appropriations committee, Rogers works to secure funding for important projects in the fifth Congressional district.