Update airport master plan

The Town of Bethel received a $258,000 Project Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Airport Improvement Program (CFDA 20.106) to update the existing airport master plan for airports associated with Bethel, Maine. The grant was awarded on July 29, 2025, with a project completion deadline of July 28, 2029. Master planning activities under this grant will produce an updated comprehensive airport master plan that guides future infrastructure development, operational improvements, and strategic planning for the airport facility located in Gilead, Maine.

The Airport Improvement Program, which encompasses traditional AIP (Airport Improvement Program) funding, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations, and COVID-19 relief grants, supports the FAA's strategic objectives of safety, operational excellence, and long-term economic benefits through transportation infrastructure investment. Master planning grants such as this one are foundational planning projects that precede subsequent infrastructure development and modernization initiatives at eligible public-use airports included in the National Plan of Integrated Airports Systems. The Town of Bethel, as a local government entity, has demonstrated a track record of successfully managing multiple FAA grants exceeding $1.3 million for various airport infrastructure projects, positioning it to effectively execute this master plan update within the four-year project period.

Activities and expected outcomes

This project updates the existing airport master plan study. Intended beneficiary: this grant will provide federal funding for airports associated with bethel, maine.