Pgh-Butler Regional Airport to receive 5-year grant
The Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport will receive nearly $300,000 each year for five years through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., announced Thursday that $70 million in funding through the act has been earmarked for 62 airports in Pennsylvania, including the local airport in Penn Township.
Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport will receive $295,000 in 2022 in Airport Infrastructure Grant funding.
The airport will receive that amount each year through 2026.
“These investments will help stimulate local economies and create jobs across Pennsylvania,” Casey said in a news release. “Our commonwealth's airports connect us to each other and the rest of the world.”
Kim Geyer, county commissioner and a member of the Butler County Airport Authority board of directors, said the funds will be spent on infrastructure at the airport, such as runway construction and rehabilitation, airfield lighting, signage and drainage, land acquisition, planning and environmental studies, safety improvements, weather stations and other expenses.
“It's a windfall,” Geyer said. “There is not a lot of money that is dedicated for aviation.”
It will not go toward the current installation of public water lines on Airport Road, as funds have already been set aside for that project, Geyer said.
“With recent economic and county planning to pursue water and sewer for our regional airport, it's more important than ever that we invest in critical infrastructure to prepare for the next generation of business development and job creation here in Butler County,” Geyer said. “Laying the groundwork infrastructure will position potential and multiple opportunities for the airport authority to pursue various projects, which will grow the airport facilities into the future.”
She said the grant is greatly appreciated by the airport authority's board of directors.
“Our airport adds a quality of life,” Geyer said. “It is part of our economic development plan and overall comprehensive county plan.”
She said the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport provides corporate commerce in the county, as staff from various businesses and industries regularly fly in and out on its runways.
In addition to those corporate passengers, freight is often flown in and out of the county via the airport.
“Our airport plays a great role in the economic development of our county,” Geyer said.
The airport is currently pursuing a runway extension project that would lengthen the current runway by 4,800 to 5,500 feet.
Airport officials are interested in closing Monroe Road to the southwest of the airport property, but are waiting for a decision by Penn Township supervisors on the issue.
Geyer said the board is also waiting to hear whether they will receive the federal funding they need to extend the runway.
“We are literally in a holding pattern,” she said.
Geyer said Pennsylvania will receive $355 million in federal dollars through the Airport Improvement Program overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration, if state legislators come up with the required $3.5 million match.
“The airport authority is convinced that the possibilities are endless when they work together to create working partnerships with others in our aviation and business community,” she said.
Geyer said future projects at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport include a new corporate hangar, additional hangar space for tenants, developing 45 acres adjacent to the airport for a potential corporate aviation business park, facilities upgrades, flight school upgrades and medical flight operations upgrades.
