DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa’s Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced Friday the awarding of $24.4 million in new federal grants to fund runway reconstruction projects at airports in Perry and Des Moines.
The Perry Municipal Airport was awarded a grant of about $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in order to complete the fourth phase of construction and shifting of the 4,000-foot runway.
The Des Moines International Airport was awarded a $22.2 million DOT grant to complete the fifth phase of reconstruction of a 9,000foot runway at the airport.
“These critical funds will ensure the safety of the travelers who visit Iowa and the longevity of our airports, which are key in growing and fueling economic development here in central Iowa,” Rep. Axne said. “I’m happy to see the Des Moines and Perry airports receiving the funds they needs to continue these projects.”
Funds were awarded through the DOT’s discretionary grant process and through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program.
Both projects were partially funded through COVID-19 relief dollars authorized through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), a bill approved in March with Axne’s support. The Des Moines grant included about $2.2 million from ARP funds, and the Perry grant included $220,256 in ARP-funded relief.
