The Department of Transportation picked the Asheville Regional Airport as the backdrop to announce major funding grants for airport hubs across the country – including a hefty sum for Asheville. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis(R-NC) was on hand as Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao made the grant announcement.
“The Asheville Regional Airport will receive 10 million dollars for terminal rehabilitation,” says Chao, “This makes Asheville one of 8 in the nation to receive 10 million or more in this round.”
Senator Tillis told reporters, “It’s exciting to see how much progress has been made at this airport.” The 10 million dollar grant from the Department of Transportation will be used to rehabilitate and expand the airport terminal
Lew Bleiweis, executive director of the Asheville Regional Airport noted that the Asheville Regional Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the country, and the demand for air service in western North Carolina has outgrown the terminal.
The grant is part of the Airport Improvement Program, included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which provides funding for public-use airports, like Asheville’s. One other North Carolina Airport, the Coastal Carolina regional airport in New Bern will receive nearly 5 million dollars to build a new rescue and firefighting station.
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