Rehabilitate taxiway lighting; construct airport drainage/erosion control; rehabilitate runway lighting

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Southern Region, awarded a $3,055,555.56 Project Grant to the Aviation Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation on August 4, 2025, under the Airport Improvement Program (CFDA 20.106). This grant functions as a state block grant program administered by North Carolina to distribute federal funding for airport infrastructure improvements at nonprimary airports throughout the state. The project encompasses three primary infrastructure objectives: taxiway lighting rehabilitation, runway lighting rehabilitation, and airport drainage system and erosion control construction. The grant period extends through August 3, 2029, providing four years for design, construction, and project closeout activities at eligible airports statewide.

The Aviation Division distributed sub-awards from this grant to three local airport entities to execute specific infrastructure projects. Davidson County Airport Authority received funding for taxiway lighting rehabilitation (awarded January 20, 2026), Wayne County Government received funding for Phase 2 airfield drainage improvements (awarded January 20, 2026), and the City of Hickory received funding for runway lighting rehabilitation (awarded December 10, 2025). These coordinated sub-awards demonstrate the block grant structure's effectiveness in directing federal capital to critical safety and operational infrastructure at regional airports across North Carolina's nonprimary aviation system.

Activities and expected outcomes

This project awards a state block grant program grant to the state of north carolina to administer airport improvement program sub-awards for nonprimary airports within the state. Intended beneficiary: this grant will provide federal funding for airports in the north carolina state block grant program.