Essex County Airport Authority

Essex County Airport Authority, registered in SAM.gov since 2011 and located in Tappahannock, Virginia, is a local government entity operating the Tappahannock-Essex County Airport (Xsa). As a U.S. County Airport Authority, the organization manages and develops airport infrastructure and services, serving the transportation and aviation needs of Essex County. The airport is a critical regional transportation asset that supports local economic development and aviation activities through strategic infrastructure improvements and facility expansions.

The airport authority has been the recipient of multiple federal grants, primarily from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the Airport Improvement Program (CFDA 20.106). Recent grant awards have focused on critical infrastructure development and pandemic response, including a $631,578.95 grant for constructing nine 1,452 square foot hangars and one 4,356 square foot hangar to generate revenue and enhance airport sustainability. The organization has also received COVID-19 related economic relief grants, including American Rescue Plan Act funds and Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act funds, which supported operational costs, personnel expenses, cleaning, sanitization, and pandemic mitigation efforts. Another significant grant funded the design and construction of a 3,560-foot parallel taxiway to improve airport operational efficiency by eliminating the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway. These grants demonstrate the airport authority's commitment to infrastructure development, operational improvement, and resilience during challenging economic conditions.