FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BLOOMINGTON -NORMAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE LARGE GRANT FROM THE FAA

Illinois Senator and Congressmen Assist Airport with Funding Needs

 For more info rmation:

Carl Olson                                                                                                       

Executive Director

Central Illinois Regional Airport

309-663-7384  

( September 5, 2007 )  The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority will be receiving a $3.9 million grant through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.  The funding will be used for two projects already planned for the airport.  The bulk of the grant - $3.5 million –will be used to construct a new joint use fire station on the airport’s southeast side that will serve both the east side of the City of Bloomington and the Central Illinois Regional Airport.   An additional $406,000 will be used to fund the design work for a new airport maintenance building, which will house snow removal equipment.

“It was a very competitive year for federal funds and we are extremely appreciative for the efforts made on our behalf by our Illinois legislators – Senator Richard Durbin and Congressmen Tim Johnson and Jerry Weller,” said Paul Harmon, Chairman of the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority.  “Their collective assistance in securing these funds was invaluable and insures that BNAA can move forward on these important projects.  A new fire station that will service both the community and the airport is an excellent example of a mutually beneficially partnership between two governmental entities that efficiently uses federal funds.”

The design work for the new fire station is nearing completion.  Ground breaking for the construction of the station is expected in 2008. ##