Litchfield Municipal Airport is among 14 airports around the state that will receive improvement grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., announced April 10 that the airports in Greater Minnesota will receive the funds to be used for various airport improvement projects, including safety upgrades, runway expansions and hangar construction.
 
“Local airports across Minnesota are a vital part of the transportation system as well as an important economic development tool for their respective communities,” Coleman said. “Talking to folks around the state, I’ve heard firsthand how the airports play a significant role in the local economy, but have also heard about the need to improve and expand them going forward.  The FAA’s grant funding will allow these airports to improve their service and infrastructure, which will keep these airports functioning well into the future.”  
 
Litchfield will receive $61,750 to construct a hangar area taxiway and to undertake a study of the terminal area to analyze development of the airport.

Other funding included:
 
$199,500 for Pipestone Municipal to purchase snow removal equipment and construct a fuel farm;
 
$136,451 for Hector Municipal for the construction of a new terminal building and the purchase of snow removal equipment;
 
$132,709 for Fairmont Municipal for the installation of perimeter fencing in the terminal area, repairs of the terminal apron, and the removal of obstruction;
 
$236,435 for Lac qui Parle County to reconstruct the terminal apron;
 
$33,250 to Fillmore County to rehabilitate the terminal building;  
 
$66,500 for Austin Municipal to update the airport master plan;
 
$104,386 to Dodge Center for the installation of hangar area fencing and the rehabilitation of hangar area taxi lanes and the precision approach path indicator lights;
 
$95,000 to Hutchinson Municipal- Butler Field for the rehabilitation of Runway 15/33;
 
$321,100 to Blue Earth Municipal for the purchase of snow removal equipment and design work for the future extension of Runway 16/34;
 
$137,750 to Windom Municipal for the purchase of snow removal equipment and the conduction of an environmental assessment for a potential runway extension;
 
$114,000 to Mahnomen County for the purchase of snow removal equipment and to design runway rehabilitation;
 
$178,810 to Worthington Municipal for runway rehabilitation;
 
$32,000 to Willmar Municipal to relocate the airport’s remote communications outlet.