PENN TWP — A $1.3 million state grant will help the Butler County Airport continue to expand.

Ivan Longdon, the manager of the Butler County Airport, said the money will go toward acquiring land, widening a taxiway and doing a feasibility study on expanding the runway.

“We’re always excited to receive money to keep the airport growing,” he said.

State Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, announced Wednesday the airport is one of 35 airports in the state to receive state funding in this round of capital improvement project grants.

About $780,000 of the grant will go to widening the taxiway on the southern side of the airport. It will be a continuation of previous taxiway projects at the airport.

Last year the airport received $830,000 in state grants for widening its taxiways.

Longdon said the taxiways, which are paths that connect hangars to the runway, are being widened by 15 feet to comply with the most recent Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The taxiway set to be expanded is currently 20 feet wide.

Work on this year’s project is expected to begin later this summer and could be completed this fall if there is a dry construction season, Longdon said. Otherwise, work would continue into next spring.

About $300,000 of the new grant will go to the feasibility study on lengthening the runway.

“Before the federal government will consider giving grant money for the project, we need to do a feasibility study,” Longdon said.

The airport is hoping to lengthen its 4,800-foot runway by about 700 feet.

The project would allow the largest aircraft designated to use the airport to takeoff with a full tank of fuel, thus allowing them to travel farther.

The largest planes at the airport are business jets capable of carrying about 10 passengers.

FAA regulations prevent the largest aircraft from leaving with a full tank of fuel due to weight concerns.

An extended runway also would help all airplanes during the icy winter months, Longdon said.

The study is expected to take a year to complete.

The rest of the grant will go to land acquisition on the western side of the airport.

“Anytime land inside the Runway Protection Zone becomes available, the FAA likes us to buy it,” Longdon said.

The manager said he is not certain what land or how much may be bought this year.

In addition to the money the Butler airport will receive, the Zelienople Municipal Airport also will receive $150,417 to install visual glideslope indicators to assist pilots in landing.

In total, 35 airports across the state will receive $18 million in grants during the current round of funding.