Federal Grant Award Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority a $15.05 million Project Grant on June 5, 2026, under the Airport Infrastructure Grants program (CFDA 20.117) to fund Phase 2 construction of critical airfield infrastructure improvements at the airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The grant will support three primary deliverables: construction of a new 1,760-foot-long by 50-foot-wide Taxiway L to bring the facility into compliance with current Federal Aviation Regulations standards; reconstruction of existing Taxiway D lighting systems that have reached the end of their serviceable life; and implementation of wildlife and wetland mitigation measures consistent with the airport's Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Plan to enhance operational safety. The project is expected to reach completion by June 4, 2030, with performance spanning approximately four years from the award date.

This grant represents substantial federal investment in modernizing airport ground infrastructure and safety systems through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act program, which allocates $14.5 billion over five years for airport improvements nationwide. The wildlife mitigation component underscores the FAA's emphasis on integrating environmental stewardship with aviation safety protocols at public-use airports listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.